Law Review

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Law Review

Western State Law Review is a student-run legal journal that focuses on articles relating to California law or federal law that have a substantial impact on California. The publication is distributed both in print and online (located at LexisNexis, Westlaw and HeinOnline) to practitioners and schools throughout the world. It draws heavily on California lawyers’ work and provides opportunities to build connections with the practicing bar that can lead to important work after graduation. In addition to publishing at least two journals a year, the Law Review routinely puts on a symposium, inviting speakers from across the country to debate topics such as the legalization of marijuana, and the NSA’s spying program. The symposium is open to the public, and lawyers, judges and interested citizens from throughout the state come to engage and analyze the complicated issues of the day. Law Review membership is a prestigious honor, and students should strive to become eligible to be part of this nationally recognized organization.

To learn more, please visit the Western State Law Review website.

THE LAW REVIEW AT WESTERN STATE COLLEGE OF LAW HOSTS NATIONAL SECURITY SYMPOSIUM

Over 60 students, faculty, attorneys and national security law enthusiasts gathered at Western State College of Law on Saturday, April 12th for “The Constitutionality and Consequences of America’s Use of Drones and the NSA Spying Program,” hosted by the Western State Law Review.

Moderated by Professor Ryan T. Williams, Assistant Professor at Western State College of Law, and Law Review Symposium Editor, Justin Morrison, the event featured two distinguished panels of national security experts hailing from prominent legal institutions across the nation and a keynote presentation by Dean Erwin Chemerinsky from the University of California Irvine School of Law.

Major General Charles Dunlap, Jr. from Duke University School of Law, Assistant Dean Amy Gaudion from Penn State Law, Professor John Radsan from William Mitchell School of Law, and Professor Kevin Smith from Whittier Law School participated in a colorful discussion on the use of predator drone strikes in the morning panel titled, “Executive Use Only: The Continued Use of Predator Drones in the War on Terror.” The panelists explored the effectiveness of the continued use of predator drone strikes and the long-term consequences of such actions. Additionally, the panelists discussed the adequacy of current guidelines for targeted killings and the constitutionality of the decision making process. While panelists Gaudion and Smith expressed the need for greater transparency and heightened judicial involvement in regards to targeted killings; others such as Dunlap strongly disagreed. “Every time there’s more transparency, the enemy goes to school on it,” he explained.

“Privacy has been a casualty on the War on Terror; and in this way, the Supreme Court has failed to uphold the Constitution,” stated Dean Erwin Chemerinsky during his much anticipated keynote presentation. Chemerinsky addressed his perspective on the constitutional concerns related to privacy resulting from the War on Terror and related advances in technology. He further stated, “What the Supreme Court needs to do, but has not yet done, is develop a theory of informational privacy.”

The afternoon panel featured Attorney Todd Gallinger from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Professor William Snyder from Syracuse University College of Law, Moderator Professor Ryan T. Williams, and Professor John Radsan (who participated in both panels). In the discussion titled, “It’s Not Paranoia If It’s True: The Scope and Legality of the NSA Spying Program,” the panel addressed the legality and scope of NSA surveillance as well as the benefits and difficulties resulting from public transparency or lack thereof. In another well-rounded discussion, the panel explored the implications caused by the leak of classified documents by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

The event was made possible by sponsors: The Law Offices of Jacqueline Goodman; Attorney, Brad Hayes; Cummins & White, LLP and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP.

Founded in 1966, Western State College of Law is the oldest law school in Orange County, Southern California, and is fully ABA approved. Western State College of Law’s 11,000+ alumni are well represented across public and private sector legal practice areas, including 150 California judges and about 15% of Orange County’s Deputy Public Defenders and District Attorneys.

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Programs, credential levels, technology and scheduling options are subject to change. Western State College of Law at Westcliff University, 16715 Von Karman Ave., #100, Irvine, CA 92606 © 2020 Western State College of Law. All rights reserved. Our email address is materialsreview@wsulaw.edu.

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