USF Law Grad Swears San Francisco Mayor Into Office
As a young paralegal just out of college, Jessie Peterson JD ’21 never would have predicted she’d take center stage the day San Francisco welcomed its first new mayor since 2018.
Peterson, an associate deputy state public defender who works on death penalty appellate cases, officiated San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 8.
Peterson first came to Lurie’s attention when she was an undergraduate at San Francisco State. She was part of the Guardian Scholars Program (GSP), which helps current or former foster youth get into college and graduate. When Lurie’s nonprofit, Tipping Point, made a donation 14 years ago in support of GSP, Peterson was selected to accept the gift on the program’s behalf.
While she was at San Francisco State, Peterson sat in on a constitutional law class at USF School of Law taught by Professor Julie Nice.
“It was then I knew USF was where I wanted to attend law school,” Peterson said. “I just felt like I belonged there.”
When, after her third try, she was admitted to USF Law, Peterson earned straight As, participated in the Racial Justice Clinic and Criminal and Juvenile Justice Clinic, was a member of the academic support program, and served as the chair of the Public Interest Law Foundation and the editor in chief of the law review.
“As a law student, Jessie's leadership skills and passion for justice were evident in everything she did,” said Stephanie Carlos, assistant dean for student affairs.
Peterson said her work with the clinics inspired her current practice. “I got to represent people in superior court through the CJJC, and work with and advocate on behalf of clients inside the jails at the S.F. Public Defender’s Office as part of the RJC,” she said. “The real-life, hands-on experience prepared me to become a competent public defender.”
Today, Peterson represents clients in their felony criminal appeals in the California Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court.
“It’s my dream job,” she said. “I feel incredibly honored every single day to do this work. I get to call out the injustices in our unjust criminal legal system, and represent the most disadvantaged, forgotten about people in our society.”
After the November mayoral election, Lurie’s team called Peterson. They wanted to have a different type of inauguration, and part of that meant eschewing having a governor or attorney general administer the oath of office. They wanted a San Franciscan, someone to whom Lurie would be accountable.
Asked about her long-term goals, Peterson said, “My goal every day is to learn more and be a better lawyer and advocate. Right now, I am focused on doing that.”
