Regent Law Appoints S. Ernie Walton as Interim Dean and Welcomes Three New Faculty Members
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (June 16, 2025) – Regent University School of Law is pleased to announce the appointment of S. Ernie Walton, J.D., as Interim Dean, effective July 1, 2025.
A Regent Law alumnus, Walton currently serves as Associate Dean of Administration and Assistant Professor of Law and brings to the role not only steady leadership and deep institutional knowledge, but also a profound love for Regent Law and an abiding commitment to its mission.
Known for his thoughtful presence and unrelenting pursuit of excellence, Walton embodies the high calling of a Christian law school dedicated to shaping principled leaders for the practice of law.
“It is an honor to step into this role at such a pivotal time in Regent Law’s story,” said Walton. “I am deeply grateful to the Lord for how He continues to bless this institution. For years, I’ve seen firsthand the excellence of our students and faculty and the impact of our mission to disciple the next generation of Christian lawyers. Regent Law has been quietly exceeding expectations for a long time, and I believe the world is only beginning to recognize just how extraordinary this community truly is.”
Walton has long served as a cornerstone of Regent Law’s internal leadership, overseeing core administrative operations and personally supporting students at every stage of their journey.
His appointment provides continuity and confidence amid a national search for the law school’s next permanent dean. The university is seeking a leader who will carry forward Regent Law’s unique calling and continue building on its remarkable progress.
Regent Law continues to rise in national prominence and expand its influence across the legal academy and the legal profession.
The school broke into the U.S. News & World Report Top 100 in the 2025–26 rankings this year, landing at No. 94 after climbing 53 spots over the past four years—the fastest rise of any law school in the nation during that period. Regent Law also achieved the highest first-time bar passage rate in Virginia in 2024 (89.74%) of any law school in the Commonwealth and ranked 38th in the nation for first-time bar passage overall.
In addition to Walton’s appointment, Regent Law is adding three new talented faculty members to its erudite complement this year.
Jeremy M. Christiansen joins Regent Law from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where he was a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. He brings extensive experience in appellate and constitutional litigation, including multiple merits cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. His scholarly work focuses on the Classical Legal Tradition and has been cited by state appellate courts and judges. Christiansen is a co-managing editor of The New Digest, the leading online publication dedicated to the revival of the Classical Legal Tradition. He holds a J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Utah and clerked for both the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Utah Supreme Court. He and his wife, Carly, have eight children.
Jennifer R. Franklin, a Regent Law alumna, returns to her alma mater after serving as a professor and assistant dean at William & Mary Law School. Earlier in her career, she clerked for the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and served in the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, where she argued over 75 appeals as an Assistant Attorney General. She later became Habeas Supervisor for the Supreme Court of Virginia, overseeing thousands of habeas corpus cases. Franklin brings extensive expertise in legal writing, analysis, and pedagogy, along with a longstanding commitment to student formation and public service. Welcome home, Professor Franklin.
Wayne E. Johnson, a retired federal bankruptcy judge, joins the Regent Law faculty after 14 years of service on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California—one of the busiest bankruptcy courts in the nation. Prior to his appointment to the bench in 2011, Johnson practiced bankruptcy law in Los Angeles and later as a sole practitioner in Redlands, California. He and his wife have homeschooled their seven children, reflecting a deep commitment to faith and family. Johnson’s extensive experience as a leader in the judiciary and a follower of Christ will enrich Regent Law’s mission of mentoring the next generation of Christian legal professionals.
For more information about Regent University School of Law, visit www.regent.edu/law.
About Regent Law
Regent Law equips students to serve as practice-ready, purpose-driven attorneys grounded in timeless legal principles. More than 3,800 alumni practice in all 50 states and over 20 countries, including 38 currently serving as judges. In 2024, Regent ranked #94 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report—the fastest-rising law school in the nation over the 2022–2026 ranking cycle. Regent Law also achieved the highest first-time bar passage rate among Virginia law schools on the 2024 Virginia bar exam and ranked 38th in the nation for first-time bar passage overall. Additional honors include a tie for 2nd in the nation for professor accessibility and 9th for teaching quality according to Princeton Review. The school offers a Juris Doctor (J.D.) in accelerated, traditional three-year, and part-time formats; an online M.A. in Law; an online M.A. in Financial Planning & Law; an LL.M. in Human Rights (on-campus and online); an LL.M. in American Legal Studies (on-campus and online); and an online B.A. in Law.
About Regent University
Founded in 1977, Regent University is America’s premier Christian university, with more than 13,000 students studying on its 70-acre campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and online around the world. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study, including business, communication and the arts, counseling, cybersecurity, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing, healthcare, and psychology. Regent University has been ranked the #1 Best Accredited Online College in the United States (Study.com, 2020), the #1 Safest College Campus in Virginia (YourLocalSecurity, 2021), and the #1 Best Online Bachelor’s Program in Virginia for 13 years in a row (U.S. News & World Report, 2025).
To support the Royals Rise capital campaign for campus expansion, visit www.regent.edu/royalsrise.
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