About our authors
Cliff Roberson LLM, PhD, is an emeritus professor of criminal justice at Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, and a retired professor of criminology at California State University, Fresno, California. He has authored or coauthored numerous books and texts on legal subjects and victims’ issues. His previous academic positions include Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Arkansas Tech University; Dean of Arts and Sciences, University of Houston, Victoria; Director of Programs, National College of District Attorneys; Professor of Criminology and Director of Justice Center, California State University, Fresno; and Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, St. Edward’s University. Dr. Roberson’s non-academic experience includes U.S. Marine Corps service as an infantry officer, trial, and defense counsel and military judge as a marine judge advocate, as well as Director of the Military Law Branch, U.S. Marine Corps. Other legal employment experiences include Trial Supervisor, Office of State Counsel for Offenders, Texas Board of Criminal Justice, and judge pro-tem in the California courts.
His first involvement with victims’ issues came in 1981 when the State Bar of Texas appointed a committee on victims’ issues. He was fortunate to be appointed to that committee. In 1984, as director of the Justice Center, California State University, Fresno, he authorized funds to hold a training course on victims’ services. Years later, as a faculty member at Washburn University, he attended a conference in Kansas City on victims’ services. It was at this conference that the American Society of Victimology was founded, and he joined as a life member. Unfortunately, the Society has not been regularly active in recent years.
Harvey Wallace, deceased, 1944-2007, was a professor in the Criminology Department, California State University, Fresno. He served as chair of the Department of Criminology. During his tenure as chair, the department embarked on innovative programs. He was the associate dean for the College of Social Sciences at California State University, Fresno, from 2003 to 2005. Professor Wallace received a Juris Doctorate Degree from California Western School of Law, an MPA from Golden Gate University, and a BS in criminology from California State University, Fresno.
He was considered a subject matter expert by the U.S. Department of Justice in Family Violence and Victimology. He is the author or coauthor of nine college texts and has published in referred and scholarly journals as well as presented his research at a variety of national and international conferences. Professor Wallace was an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of California, and his professional experience includes appointment as the city attorney of the City of Fresno, service as the county counsel for the County of Butte, private practice in a media law firm, and experience as deputy district attorney in San Diego, California.
In 2008, the Northern California Mock Trial Regional was renamed the Harvey Wallace Northern California Mock Trial Regional in memory of Harvey Wallace.
