LLS | Faculty | Jessica A. Levinson

Jessica A. Levinson
Visiting Associate Clinical Professor

Educational and Professional Background

While in law school, Jessica Levinson was the Senior Articles Editor of the Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review. Following graduation, Levinson served as a law clerk to the Honorable James V. Selna from 2005-06. She then practiced with the law firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Professor Levinson began teaching as an Adjunct Professor at Loyola in 2009. From 2008-11, Levinson served as the Director of Political Reform at the Center for Governmental Studies. Levinson’s work focuses on election law and governance issues, including campaign finance, ethics, ballot initiatives, redistricting, term limits, and state budgets.

Recent Scholarship

"Bite Your Tongue in Europe: The European Court of Human Rights Strikes a Blow to the Freedom of Expression," 26 Loy. L.A. Int'l& Comp. L. Rev. 483 (2004).

Selected Lectures and Presentations

"Presidential Politics," hosted by the Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California, October 19, 2011.

Commentary

"Four ways to reform the initiative process on its 100th anniversary," October 20, 2011.
"The battle between our lawmakers and Amazon rages on," Los Angeles Daily Journal, September 1, 2011.
"A ballot box battle brewing over the 'Amazon tax,'" Los Angeles Daily Journal, July 22, 2011.
"Re-Shaping California's Political Landscape One Line at a Time," Los Angeles Daily Journal, July 18, 2011.
“Justices Strike Down “Rescue Funds Provision” in Public Campaign Financing Law,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 30, 2011.
“It's That Time Again: The Legal and Political Struggle Over Redistricting California,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 21, 2011.
“Public Campaign Financing Laws in Danger,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, October 4, 2010.

"Kinde Durkee's Alleged Fruad Continues to Take Its Toll on California Politicians," October 7, 2011. "Good News From the Republican Presidential Debate!," September 13, 2011; "Is it Time to Take Away My Right to Vote...For Judicial Candidates?," August 1, 2011; "Arizona Free Enterprise V. Bennett Explained," June 27, 2011; "The Edwards Indictment Explained: What Did Johnny Do? (Allegedly)," June 3, 2011; "Will Corporations Be Prohibited From Giving to Candidates After All?," June 1, 2011; "Corporations Can Now Donate Directly to Candidates (According to One Federal Judge)," May 28, 2011. “San Bernardino, California: Politicians Gone Wild?” May 11, 2011; “Should President Obama Bring Campaign Contributions by Federal Contractors to Light?” April 22, 2011; “Why L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa Is in Hot, Or at Least Lukewarm, Water Over Ethics Violations,” April 4, 2011; “Will the Supreme Court Vote for Speech?” March 30, 2011; “Dear Legislators, Support Education and Avoid Being the Next Ozymandias, King of Kings,” March 16, 2011; “Five Things Charlie Sheen Can Teach Us About Politics,” March 10, 2011; “Why the Other Members of the SCOTUS Should Follow Justice Clarence Thomas’ Lead (Sort of…), February 23, 2011; “We Should All Vote by Mail Because I love Cauliflower Soup,” February 13, 2011; “Why do so few of us vote?” February 6, 2011; “The Kumbaya State of the Union,” January 25, 2011; “How Much Speech Will We Buy in 2012?” January 17, 2011; “Oh How the Mighty Have Fallen: Former U.S. House Majority Leader Gets Three Years in Prison,” January 11, 2011; “Recalling Governor Schwarzenegger’s Tenure as Governor,” December 31, 2010; “Will Redistricting Lead to A Great Disappearing Act?” December 27, 2010; “Don’t Tell Us What to Ask,” December 21, 2010; “Unprecedented Gutsiness by the Federal Government,” December 20, 2010; “Clash of the Titans: An Ode to Sarah Palin,” December 16, 2010; “Proposition 8: Who Will Be Left Standing?” December 13, 2010; “He Can’t Rangel Out of an Ethics Violation” December 3, 2010; “The Supreme Court Could Axe Efforts to Reduce Big Money,” November 30, 2010; “The Hammer Gets Nailed,” November 25, 2010; “Complaints from California: Untangling the Ballot Measures,” November 9, 2010; “Which Way Are the Political Winds Blowing as We Enter Election 2010?” October 27, 2010; “California’s Newly ‘Balanced’ Budget Is a Face,” October 9, 2010; “Oops, They Did it Again,” October 8, 2010; “What All the November California Ballot Measures Have in Common,” October 5, 2010; “Is Money Speaking in California’s Race for Governor?” September 23, 2010; “Campaign Contributions to Judges: Improving the Third Branch or Touching the Third Rail?,” September 15, 2010; “Chartering Towards Destruction: The Real Cause of the Scandals in Bell and Vernon,” September 10, 2010; “Charitable Giving: A Path Towards Corruption?” September 8, 2010.

“New Public Financing Program Implemented in District 15 Race,” November 3, 2011; “Will California's Newly Drawn Senate Maps Stand?,” October 31, 2011; “Obamajam: Is Fundraising During a Los Angeles Rush Hour Essential?,” October 25, 2011; “Contributors to 'Yes on Proposition 8' Are Not Exempt from Disclosure Laws,” October 24, 2011; “New Murals for Los Angeles?,” October 20, 2011; “California to Allow Political Contributions via Text Message,” October 17, 2011; “Villaraigosa Donor Found Guilty of Money Laundering,” October 13, 2011; “Gov. Brown Says We Will Only Vote on Initiatives & Referendum in November Elections,” October 10, 2011; “Should Los Angeles Get Rid of the Business Tax?,” October 6, 2011; “Newly Drawn Congressional Districts Under Fire,” October 3, 2011; “A New Redistricting Plan for Los Angeles County,” September 29, 2011; “Can Californians Gamble Their Way Out of the Budget Deficit?,” September 26, 2011; “Street Art: Benefit or Detriment?,” September 22, 2011; “What Will Become of California's Newly Drawn State Senate Districts?,” September 19, 2011; “Three Cheers for the Expo Line!,” September 15, 2011; "Should We Limit How Often We Can Vote on Ballot Initiatives?," September 12, 2011; "Tax Credits for Hollywood?," September 8, 2011; "Should Governor Brown Sign the Online Voter Registration Bill?," September 5, 2011; "If You Get A Dreaded Red Light Ticket, Do You Have to Pay?," September 1, 2011; "Republicans Target California's Independent Redistricting Commission," August 29, 2011; "Dear California Lawmakers: Time to Disclose Your Budgets and Expenditures," August 27, 2011; "How Much Does it Cost to be Mayor of Los Angeles?," August 18, 2011; "Dear Californians, You Don't Matter," August 15, 2011; "Redistricting, Round Two: Drawing Local Legislative Lines," August 11, 2011; "Do Californians Have the Right to See the Current Budgets and Expenditures of their Lawmakers?," August 8, 2011; "Legal Defense Funds: An Ethical Dilemma?," August 4, 2011. "Re-Drawing California's Political Landscape," August 1, 2011; "Goodbye Term Limits?," July 25, 2011; "What if Carmageddon was Electoralypse?" July 18, 2011; "Carmageddon: A Worthless Ordeal?," July 11, 2011; "In Honor of July 4th, Let's Go Unicamera;?." July 4, 2011; “Carmageddon: Coming to a Theater Near You,” June 27, 2011; “Governor Jerry Brown: Unpredictably Consistent When It Comes to the Budget,” June 20, 2011; “California’s Budget Comes Down to Four Votes,” June 13, 2011; “Should Lawmakers Go Without Pay?” June 6, 2011; “California Voters Want A Say in Budget Decisions,” June 1, 2011; “California Legislators Want Their Gifts,” May 30, 2011; "Is It Time to Take Away My Right to Vote... For Judicial Candidates?," August 1, 2011; “Arizona Free Enterprise v. Bennett Explained,” June 27, 2011; “The Edwards Indictment Explained: What did Johnny Do? (Allegedly),” June 3, 2011; “Will Corporations Be Prohibited From Giving to Candidates After All?” June 1, 2011; “Corporations Can Now Donate Directly to Candidates (According to One Federal Judge),” May 28, 2011; “How Did a Conservative Finish as One of the Top-Two Vote-Getters in the Liberal 36th Congressional District?,” May 23, 2011; “Bringing the Budget Crisis Home: Will Fire Safety Go Up in Flames?,” May 16, 2011; “When it Comes to Presidential Politics, Does California Even Matter?,” May 9, 2011; “San Bernardino County Ethics ‘Advocate’ Charged in Criminal Corruption Case,” May 2, 2011; “What Are Californians Thinking? Tax the Rich, Educate the Kids,” April 27, 2011; “Q & A: What is the State of California’s Budget?,” April 25, 2011; “Q & A: State Legislators Stripped of Taxpayer-Funded Vehicles. Is it a Good Thing?” April 18, 2011; “A Rundown of Legislators Taking Californians for a Ride,” April 11, 2011; “How Will a Federal Government Shutdown Affect Californians,” April 7, 2011; “An Overview of Politicians Behaving Badly in San Bernardino County,” April 4, 2011; “Brown Faces Few Options After Breakdown of Budget Negotiations,” March 30, 2011; “When it Comes to California’s Budget, Who Will Take the Initiative?” March 28, 2011; “Did the State GOP Create a Workaround to the New Open Primary Election System,” March 21, 2011; “California Budget in Crisis: Lawmakers Pass Spending Cuts, No Agreement on Tax Extensions,” March 17, 2011; “Redistricting 2011: Californians, are You Ready for a Political Shakeup?” March 14, 2011; “L.A. Election Recap: Low Voter Turnout, Incumbents Stay Put, Most Measures Pass,” March 9, 2011; “Los Angeles City Ballot Measure Roundup,” March 7, 2011; “Congratulations on your victor Oscar winners/newly-elected officials, it’s time to start running again,” February 28, 2011; “Maxed out on your campaign contributions? No problem, sort of, most of the time,” February 21, 2011; “In Honor of Valentines Day: Dear Ted Lieu, You’re Making My Boyfriend Jealous,” February 14, 2011; “I am a monkey, and other ballot designations,” February 7, 2011; “How Special Will the February 15th Elections Really be?” January 24, 2011; “No More Love Letters from the Legislature,” January 31, 2011; “Governor Schwarzenegger’s Controversial Last Act,” January 17, 2011.; “Welcome Governor Brown, Best Wishes Justice Moreno,” January 10, 2011; “Ms. Bass and Mr. Denham Go to Washington, Alone,” January 5, 2011; “And Now, a Word from the California Supreme Court,” January 4, 2011.

Courses Taught