A sentencing judge becomes a dean

The Chief Justice kicked off the new year by comparing the salaries of federal judges to law deans (which, as Dahlia Lithwick notes, has brought the teflon John his first taste of widespread criticism).  Funny that just two days later, Duke Law School announces that Judge David Levi, who currently serves as the chief federal judge for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento, will be taking over as Dean.  The news is covered well by Peter Lattman and Howard Bashman, though I am left wondering about other historical examples of federal district judges taking deanships.

Over at Law School Innovation here, I riff generally about what Judge Levi might do once he becomes Dean Levi.  On this blog, I want to give this issue a sentencing focus.  Long ago here I argued that sentencing was among the most “under-taught” courses in law school, and I continue to hold that view.  I wonder if this would change if a lot more deans came from trial courts than from within the legal academy.

UPDATE:  How Appealing here collects links to news coverage of Judge Levi’s new job.