deukmejian was a partner in the law firm of sidley & austin from 1991 until 2000 when he retired. he reentered public life by serving on special committees, including one to reform the california penal system, and a charter-reform committee in his hometown of long beach. he oversaw a revamping of the ucla willed body program after a scandal involving the sale of human body parts donated for science. in 2013, a courthouse in long beach was named in his honor. deukmejian received an honorary doctor of laws degree from california state university, long beach, in 2008, because of his support for education, state law, and long beach.