James Whitehouse

James graduated from UCI, with degrees in Chemistry and Biology (summa cum laude) in 1993. He graduated from Harvard Law School (cum laude) in 1997. He was admitted to the bar for all four of the Federal District Courts of California, as well as the Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, where he argued several cases.

James's 25-year career as an attorney was initiated by the painful incarceration of a family member. He had to watch what the justice system did to people he cared about - how it dismisses individuals and the law with the same impunity. He has watched as the justice system, which was always a covert political tool for certain exclusive groups, has transformed into an openly political tool for the rich and powerful, which no longer even pretends to have any interest in the idea of 'equality under the law.' His background in science, law, and social justice has created a commitment to challenging societal and political structures. Art has become an extension of his life-long work in activism. His experience with the justice system and his belief in the power of art to change minds and address difficult issues, has inspired him to focus on social critique, addressing themes like systemic inequality, political corruption, and cultural conformity.