Law Review 2023-24 Executive Board and Members
editor in chief
My name is Mary Catherine Tiernan. I am currently a full-time 3L. I am the Editor in Chief and Symposium Editor of this year’s Law Review. I am interested in civil litigation, particularly construction and design law. I am currently a Law Clerk for Litchfield Law PC. I received a B.A. in International Studies and a minor in Political Science from Seattle University. In my free time, I enjoy doing yoga, gardening, interior design, traveling, and spending time with my cat, Sully.
Managing and production editor
My name is Emily Cook. I am currently a full-time 3L. I am the Managing and Executive Production Editor of this year’s Law Review. While I have not decided what particular area of law I would like to go into, I am leaning towards both business law and wills/estates. I graduated in 2020 from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Anthropology and Geography with a minor in Psychology and a concentration in Criminal Justice. In my spare time, I enjoy being with my friends and family and traveling!
Marketing editor
My name is Elizabeth Gomez. I am currently a full-time 3L with an interest in criminal defense. I plan on starting my own firm one day with a special focus on juvenile delinquency. My interest in this particular field of law stemmed from my childhood and upbringing, in which I witnessed firsthand how unfortunate experiences can encourage individuals to make poor decisions. Oftentimes, this leads to a long and unfortunate series of encounters with the criminal justice system. I hope to protect the rights of these clients and encourage them to correct their behaviors so that they can overcome any barriers standing in the way of their happiness and success. Prior to law school, I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of California, Riverside. In my free time, I enjoy nature, working out, going to the beach, and spending time with my dog, Bella.
Student Writer Editor
My name is Hesley Gonzalez and I am a full-time 3L. I am the current Student Writer Editor of Law Review. I am also the Co-President of the Latinx Law Student Association, as well as a Law Clerk for the Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic at Western State College of Law. I graduated from UC Irvine with a B.A. in Criminology, Law & Society. I have worked as a legal assistant for seven years at an immigration and criminal law firm, working on any and every type of immigration petition: from family based petitions with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to court filings with the Immigration Court. I wish to continue this practice after law school. In my free time, I enjoy going to theme parks and spending time with my family and friends.
Business & Symposium Editor
My name is Callie Yu and I am a full-time 3L. I am the current Business and Symposium Editor for Law Review. In addition, I work as a Dean’s Fellow, Notetaker, and Library Student Worker at Western State! I started my journey in the legal field by working as a legal assistant for a family law firm and then at a healthcare company. Most recently, I completed an externship at a firm where I focused on consumer law. After law school, I plan to pursue business law. During my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, going to the beach, and binge-watching TV shows!
Symposium Editor
My name is Olivia Johnson and I am a full-time 3L. I received a B.A. in English from UC Davis, where I spent time working with youth at the Yolo County Juvenile Detention Center. I hope to practice criminal defense. I love going to the beach, hanging out with my dogs, and cooking for my lady.
Amanda Hazleton
Outside Articles Editor
My name is Monica Calvillo-Chou and I’m a full-time 3L. I am interested in business law and real estate law. I enjoy being involved in school and in addition to Law Review, I work as a Dean’s Fellow for Student Academic Success and LexisNexis Student Representative. In my limited free time, I love to read, listen to podcasts, watch movies, and very recently kickboxing.
Outside Articles Editor
My name is Isabella Torkaman and I graduated from Portland State University with a degree in business and communications. I’ve worked in the legal field across three different states, including Oregon, Illinois, and California. During my senior year of my undergraduate degree, I began working as a legal assistant in a criminal law firm in Portland where I discovered my passion for law, then following my undergraduate degree, I worked in a family law firm in Chicago. Soon-after, I decided to begin my law school journey at Western and have spent my summer interning at a civil rights firm in Los Angeles.
Sierrah Flores
Member
My name is Sierrah Flores. I am full-time 3L at Western State. I am on the Western State Honors Moot Court Team and am passionate about appellate advocacy. I am interested in criminal law, as well as civil litigation. I attended the University of California, Irvine and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Political Science in 2021. My interest in law began at a very young age and has been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, trying new foods, and spending time with family.
Rachel Thomas, Esq.
Member
My name is Vivian Slu. I’m currently a full-time 2L at Western State and a first-generation law student. I graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s University with a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy with a minor in Pre-law. I am a member of the Student/Outside Editor Committee and one of the Footnote Editors of this year’s Law Review. I am also currently a member of the Western State Honors Moot Court Team. Criminal defense, public interest, and appellate law piqued my interest through my active involvement with various nonprofit organizations and coalitions, where I lobbied for legislation on resentencing and post-conviction relief. After law school, I aspire to have a career that allows me to continue my passion in working with criminal defense and public interest in my community. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, playing badminton, and binge-watching Netflix shows and movies!
Emily Cook
Member
My name is Olivia Glaiser. I am a full-time 2L interested in criminal defense. I obtained a B.S. in Criminology & Criminal Justice at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) in 2020. My interest in criminal defense was fueled by my certifications both in Crime Scene Investigation from CSULB and in Professional Forensic Psychology from San Diego State University. Aside from my interests in the legal field, I am a true crime fanatic, I love Halloween, and I even have a pet tarantula named Wybie.
Hesley Gonzalez
Member
My name is Hadassa Jakher. I am currently a part-time evening 2L. I am interested in municipal law, particularly zoning and land use. I received my Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University in 2018, where I double majored in Government and Spanish, with minors in International Relations, Latin American Studies, and Law & Society. I obtained my Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southern California in 2022, as well as a certificate in Public Policy. I currently work for the City of Costa Mesa as a Senior Management Analyst in the City Manager’s Office. In my spare time, I like running, going to the beach, and finding the best matcha latte around!
Olivia Johnson
Member
My name is Gillian Boylan and I’m a full-time 2L. Currently, I’m interested in family law, but I’m still open to other areas of the law including personal injury. I graduated from University of California, San Diego with my B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Law & Society. This year, I am doing a civil externship at a personal injury law firm. In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym, spending time with family and friends, and being outdoors.
Monica Calvillo-Chou
Member
My name is Sydney Romaine. I am a full-time 2L with an interest in criminal defense and civil rights law. I received my Bachelors of Science in Public Health at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) in 2022. My interest in criminal defense stemmed from my belief that just because people do bad things, does not mean they are bad people. In my free time, I love reading non-law related books, being around my friends and family, and spending time with my dog, Lucy.
Elizabeth Gomez
Member
My name is Amanda Hazleton. I am a part-time 3L, working full-time as a Contracts Manager, and planning to work as a commercial transactions attorney. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications and Spanish, and I have a Master’s degree in Intercultural Communications. I spent over 10 years as a paralegal before beginning law school, gaining experience in real estate, construction, automotive, corporate, personal injury, intellectual property, and franchise areas of law. I enjoy traveling to new places during any free time, and have traveled to over 50 countries.
Member
My name is Reese Perez and I am a full-time 2L. I received a B.A. in Philosophy from CSULB. The legal fields I am most interested in are business law and family law. In my free time, I like to go to the gym and the beach.
Member
My name is Michael Davy and I am currently a full-time 2L. I received a B.A. in Legal Studies from the University of La Verne in 2019. I have worked for 3 years at a personal injury firm, but I am currently interested in transactional business and intellectual property law. In my spare time, I enjoy going to the gym, playing golf, and spending time with family.
Member
My name is Kinsey Van and I am a full-time 2L. I received a B.A. in Psychology from Cal State Fullerton in 2021. I have an interest in all areas of law, but am particularly drawn to civil litigation. In my spare time, I like to spend time with loved ones, work-out, and cook.
Member
My name is Victoria Simon and I am currently a full time 2L with a bachelors in Criminology and Law from University of California Irvine. Since I was an undergrad, I’ve worked for a few different worker’s compensation law firms. In the past 9 years, I started off as a file clerk and am now currently working as a hearing representative specializing in lien resolution. In my free time, you can catch me watching a good movie, enjoying a lovely brunch, or traveling the world with my boyfriend!
Member
My name is Mireya Valle and I am a full-time 3L with an interest in entertainment and business law. I graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a B.A. in Sociology. I am also on the Honors Moot Court Team as the Director of Public Relations and a member of the Negotiations Team. I am also Vice-President of the Latinx Law Student Association and a Vice Chair of the Mexican American Bar Association. I am also currently interning for Kemper Insurance. In my free time, I enjoy listening to true crime podcasts and watching horror movies.
Mary Catherine Tiernan
Callie Yu
Member
My name is Jonathan Saldana and I am a part-time 2L. I received a B.A. from the University of California, Irvine, in Political Science. I work full time as a Courtroom Clerk at the West Justice Center. I am primarily interested in criminal law and hope to work my way up to the office of General Counsel or to a City Attorney position. In my down time, I enjoy cooking, particularly smoking meats, and baking.
Isabella Torkaman
Mary Catherine Tiernan
Faculty Advisor
Professor Koppel is an authority on civil procedure and consults widely on access to justice and court administration issues. He is also the faculty advisor of Western State Law Review.
Professor Koppel worked in the litigation division of a major Wall Street firm for seven years following law school. He then worked in the antitrust division of AT&T before moving to a number of smaller firms. He also taught civil procedure at Adelphi University in New York before coming to Western State in 1982. In spring 2004, Professor Koppel taught Civil Procedure and Evidence at Notre Dame Law School as a visiting professor. Professor Koppel has served as an advisory member to the Civil and Small Claims Committee of the California Judicial Council from 2000 through 2013 and, during fall 2002 through fall 2003, served as consultant to the California Administrative Office of the Courts on civil discovery reform. Professor Koppel is a member of the American Law Institute. Membership in the American Law Institute, limited to 4000 judges, lawyers, and legal scholars from a wide range of practice areas is considered a recognition of professional achievement.
Professor Koppel has produced a plethora of articles and journals, and participated in several meetings and conferences. Along with his prestigious educational and professional experiences, he is also very talented and active in the arts, in which he has played a lead role in many theatrical productions.