Unless you come from the law faculty.

Isn’t that rather splitting hairs as they’d have equivalent degrees?

Well yes and no. A large fraction of law professors don't have academic degrees past JD which despite having 'Doctor' in its name, is not the equivalent of a Phd. On the other hand they likely would have a large number of publications or a significant body of work as a clerk for an important court.

And, in fact, Brian Sandoval does indeed have a law degree.