Commission Members
Dr. Michael A. Moodian, Chairperson
Public Member – Appointed by the Governor
Appointment began July 16, 2015
Reappointed on February 21, 2017, and April 29, 2021
Term ends February 28, 2025
Honorable Lisa B. Lench, Vice-Chairperson
Superior Court Judge – Appointed by the Supreme Court
Appointment began May 1, 2019
Reappointment began March 1, 2023
Term ends February 28, 2027
Honorable William S. Dato
Court of Appeal Justice – Appointed by the Supreme Court
Appointment began April 1, 2018
Reappointment began March 1, 2021
Term ends February 28, 2025
Honorable Eduardo “Eddie” De La Riva
Public Member – Appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
Appointment began January 1, 2018
Reappointment began March 1, 2021
Term ends February 28, 2025
Honorable Michael B. Harper
Superior Court Judge – Appointed by the Supreme Court
Appointment began March 1, 2017
Reappointment began March 1, 2021
Term ends February 28, 2025
Rickey Ivie, Esq.
Attorney – Appointed by the Governor
Appointment began May 27, 2021
Reappointment began March 1, 2023
Term ends February 28, 2027
Ms. Sarah Kruer Jager
Public Member – Reappointed by the Senate Rules Committee
Appointment began March 1, 2016
Reappointment began March 1, 2019
Term ends February 28, 2023
Ms. Kay Cooperman Jue
Public Member – Appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
Appointment began March 7, 2019
Reappointment began March 1, 2023
Term ends February 28, 2027
Mani Sheik, Esq.
Attorney – Appointed by the Governor
Appointment began May 26, 2023
Term ends February 28, 2025
Mr. Richard Simpson
Public Member – Appointed by the Senate Rules Committee
Appointment began September 7, 2018
Term ends February 28, 2021
Ms. Beatriz E. Tapia
Public Member – Appointed by the Governor
Appointment began April 29, 2021
Reappointment began March 1, 2023
Term ends February 28, 2027
Members’ Biographies
DR. MICHAEL A. MOODIAN, CHAIRPERSON, was appointed to the commission as a public member by the Governor July 16, 2015, and reappointed February 21, 2017, and April 29, 2021; his term ends February 28, 2025. He was elected chairperson of the commission in 2023, and served as vice-chairperson of the commission from 2020 to 2023. He resides in Orange County. Dr. Moodian is a faculty member of Chapman University’s Attallah College of Educational Studies, and a cofounder of the Orange County Sustainability Decathlon, which will take place in 2023. He edited a textbook in 2009 that examines the application of cultural comprehension to organizations and the measurement of intercultural competence. The book is cited by the Association of American Colleges & Universities in establishing national learning standards. Dr. Moodian has presented his research at various national and international conferences and has served as an expert commentator on several television and radio programs. The Orange County Register in 2021 and 2022 named him to its Most Influential People in Orange County list. Dr. Moodian earned a Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University, and a Master of Arts degree in Communications and Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Sociology from California State University, Fullerton.
HON. LISA B. LENCH, VICE-CHAIRPERSON, was appointed to the commission as a superior court judicial member by the Supreme Court May 1, 2019, and reappointed to a term commencing March 1, 2023; her term ends February 28, 2027. She was elected vice-chairperson of the commission in 2023. Judge Lench serves as a judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court, to which she was appointed in November 2001 and sworn in the following January. Judge Lench is currently assigned to a complex criminal trial court. She has had a variety of assignments on the bench, including a criminal master calendar court, felony trial court, and misdemeanor calendar and trial courts. Judge Lench serves on the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Code of Judicial Ethics. She was previously chair and vice-chair and was a member of the California Judges Association’s Judicial Ethics Committee, was a member of the Center for Judicial Education and Research Ethics Advisory/Curriculum Committee, and is an ethics instructor for the Center for Judicial Education and Research. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Lench was a deputy chief for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California in the Narcotics Section. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University, Loyola Law School, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine.
HON. WILLIAM S. DATO was appointed to the commission as the Court of Appeal judicial member by the Supreme Court April 1, 2018, and reappointed to a term commencing March 1, 2021; his term ends February 28, 2025. Justice Dato has been an associate justice of Division One of the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District since 2017. Previously, he was a judge of the San Diego County Superior Court for 13 years, serving as a branch supervising judge, presiding judge of the court’s appellate division, and in a variety of substantive assignments including civil, criminal, family law, and both adult and juvenile drug court. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Justice Dato was a certified appellate law specialist in private practice and worked as an appellate court staff attorney with the California Supreme Court and California Court of Appeal. He has also been an adjunct professor at both the University of San Diego School of Law and California Western School of Law, teaching appellate practice and products liability. Justice Dato received his law degree from University of California, Los Angeles in 1980 and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics from San Diego State University in 1977.
HON. EDUARDO “EDDIE” DE LA RIVA was appointed to the commission as a public member by the Speaker of the Assembly January 1, 2018, and reappointed to a term commencing March 1, 2021; his term ends February 28, 2025. He resides in Los Angeles County. The Honorable Eddie De La Riva is currently Mayor of the City of Maywood. He previously served as council member of the Maywood City Council from 2014 to 2018. Mayor De La Riva received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Chicano Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a minor in Public Policy and a specialization in Urban Planning.
HON. MICHAEL B. HARPER was appointed to the commission as a superior court judicial member by the Supreme Court to a term commencing March 1, 2017, and reappointed to a term commencing March 1, 2021; his term ends February 28, 2025. He served as chairperson of the commission from 2020 to 2023, and served as vice-chairperson of the commission from 2018 to 2020. Judge Harper has served on the Trinity County Superior Court since his appointment in 2014, and he was retained by voters in a 2016 election. Since 2018, he has served as presiding judge of the Trinity County Superior Court. Judge Harper’s court assignments have included civil, small claims, dependency, and criminal cases. He has served as the court’s assistant presiding judge and presiding judge of the Juvenile Court, and administers the Peer Court. Judge Harper also provides judicial assistance, as required, to the neighboring superior courts in Humboldt and Shasta Counties. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Harper served for 20 years conducting investigations and prosecutions as Trinity County District Attorney, and as deputy district attorney for Trinity, Sacramento, and Placer County District Attorneys’ Offices. He graduated from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
RICKEY IVIE, ESQ., was appointed to the commission as a lawyer member by the Governor May 27, 2021, and reappointed to a term commencing March 1, 2023; his term ends February 28, 2027. He resides in Los Angeles County. Mr. Ivie is a Founding Partner of Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell & Diggs, a practicing Litigation Attorney, and a Community Leader passionate about diversity and serving others. IMW is a multi-cultural law firm. Since joining IMW in 1980, Mr. Ivie has remained dedicated to building and leading a diverse legal team that excels in providing legal services to the diverse global community. Under his leadership, IMW has grown into a secure and inspiring workplace for all employees. Mr. Ivie provides legal service to individuals, government entities, and well-known businesses including restaurants, entertainment companies, insurance companies and commercial construction businesses. He handles a range of legal cases related to personal injury, wrongful death, civil rights violations, contract disputes, trademark, copyright, corporate and commercial litigation. Over four decades, Mr. Ivie has tried numerous jury and court trials, including precedent-setting cases that have changed the practice of law and improved the lives of millions of people. Mr. Ivie received his law and undergraduate degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles. He served as Chairman of the Board of the UCLA Black Alumni Association for over 10 years, working to maintain diversity at the University and raise funds for scholarships for African American students. Mr. Ivie is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He has spoken at State Bar of California events on topics such as ethics, effective fee agreements, interacting with judges and opening a law office.
MS. SARAH KRUER JAGER was appointed to the commission as a public member by the Speaker of the Assembly March 1, 2016; her term ended February 28, 2019. She was reappointed to the commission as a public member by the Senate Rules Committee, effective March 1, 2019; her term ends February 28, 2023. She resides in San Diego County. Ms. Kruer Jager is a partner of Monarch Group, a private real estate investment and development firm based in San Diego and focused on the entitlement, development, and acquisition of institutional quality apartment communities in the Western U.S. She joined Monarch in 2005. Ms. Kruer Jager works closely with Monarch’s founding partners to set the firm’s strategic direction and oversees day-to-day business activities for all of Monarch’s wholly owned and joint venture investments. In this capacity, she leads the acquisition, predevelopment, disposition, and asset management functions and manages relationships with Monarch’s capital partners. During her tenure at Monarch, Ms. Kruer Jager has acquired, developed, and sold over $1 billion in real estate investments throughout the Western U.S. Prior to Monarch, she worked at UBS Investment Bank in Chicago in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Diversified Industrials Groups. Ms. Kruer Jager is passionate about her community, as well as leveling the playing field for young women in sports and business. She is currently involved in the following civic and industry organizations in addition to the commission. Ms. Kruer Jager is a member of the Urban Land Institute and its Bronze Multifamily Council. She is a member of Up for Growth and its California Steering Committee. She is also a member of the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate policy advisory board at the University of San Diego, a community advisory board member of CalPrivate Bank, and a founding advisory board member of Run Women Run. Ms. Kruer Jager graduated from the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with High Distinction and received her MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a major in Finance. She was awarded a four-year full tuition athletic scholarship as a member of the University of Michigan Division I Varsity Women’s Golf Team. Ms. Kruer Jager’s academic and athletic honors include being named by the National Golf Coaches Association to the Division I All-American Scholar Golf Team and receiving Academic All-Big Ten Conference Honors.
MS. KAY COOPERMAN JUE was appointed to the commission as a public member by the Speaker of the Assembly March 7, 2019, and reappointed to a term commencing March 1, 2023; her term ends February 28, 2027. She resides in Los Angeles County. Ms. Jue was a securities law paralegal with a Los Angeles law firm before retiring in 2019. She has been interested in the law since her college days. After graduation, she worked as a newswire and newspaper reporter specializing in covering courts and legal affairs, including reporting on dozens of court hearings and trials and conducting interviews of judges and attorneys. In 1983, the Orange County Bar Association honored her with its Media Award for Excellence in Legal Reporting. She switched to television news, where she worked as a news writer, field producer, associate producer, and producer. She won an Emmy Award in 1993 for best 60-minute newscast in the Los Angeles market. After 20 years in news, Ms. Jue switched to public relations, working first at UCLA and later as a sole practitioner managing media relations for a law firm and a law school among other clients. She became a paralegal in 2011. In November 2020, Ms. Jue concluded two terms on the Palos Verdes Library District Board of Library Trustees after declining to seek re-election. Ms. Jue earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and political science from California State University, Long Beach. She earned her paralegal certificate, graduating with distinction, from UCLA Extension’s Paralegal Training Program.
MANI SHEIK, ESQ., was appointed to the commission as a lawyer member by the Governor May 26, 2023; his term ends February 28, 2025. He resides in Marin County. Mr. Sheik has been the Principal at Sheik Law, Inc., since 2014. He was an Associate at several firms between 2006 and 2014, including Miller Law Group, Curiale Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP, Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP, and Reed Smith LLP. Mr. Sheik earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law; a Master of Public Health in International Health from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine.
MR. RICHARD SIMPSON was appointed to the commission as a public member by the Senate Rules Committee September 7, 2018; his term ended February 28, 2021, but he continues to serve pending appointment of a successor. Mr. Simpson previously served on the commission as a public member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly from June 17, 2013 until December 31, 2017. He served as vice-chairperson of the commission in 2017. He resides in Sacramento County. Mr. Simpson is a retired Deputy Chief of Staff for the Speaker of the California State Assembly. He served as a senior advisor for nine Assembly Speakers. He served for two years as Chief of Staff for the Senate Education Committee and for more than six years as Chief Consultant for the Assembly Education Committee. In 1999, Mr. Simpson served for six months as the first Legislative Secretary for California Governor Gray Davis. He has either written or played a key role in developing most of California’s major education reforms of the past three decades, including the Class Size Reduction program, the laws creating California’s system of academic standards and assessment, California’s school facilities financing laws, and the recent law creating a new structure for school accountability. Mr. Simpson also drafted the budget reform measures contained in Propositions 1A and 1B for the 2009 special election and the education sections of Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.’s Proposition 30 in 2012. Mr. Simpson was the Assembly’s lead negotiator on the annual budget for public education. He served for 12 years as an elected trustee of the Sacramento County Board of Education and was elected president of that board three times. In October of 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Mr. Simpson to the California Law Revision Commission. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.
MS. BEATRIZ E. TAPIA was appointed to the commission as a public member by the Governor April 29, 2021, and reappointed to a term commencing March 1, 2023; her term ends February 28, 2027. She resides in Los Angeles County. Ms. Tapia has been Chair of the Department of Chicana/o Studies at East Los Angeles College since 2019 and a Professor in the Department since 2007. She was Adjunct Faculty for the Women’s Studies Program at Santiago Canyon College in 2007. Ms. Tapia held several positions at California State University, Fullerton from 2005 to 2007, including Adjunct Professor for the Women and Gender Studies Department, Chicana and Chicano Studies Department and Sociology Department. She was a Lecturer for the Chicana/o Studies Department at California State University, Los Angeles from 2001 to 2003. Ms. Tapia earned a Master of Arts degree in Ethnic Studies and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a member of the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies.
