This year’s LACBA Women’s History Month Honorees are Christine Chambers Goodman, Samantha P. Jessner, Lydia Liberio, Gretchen Nelson, and Karina B. Sterman. Read the bios of these outstanding members and follow along on social media this month as we profile each!

Christine Chambers Goodman

Professor Goodman joined the Pepperdine faculty in 2001. She teaches Evidence, Constitutional Law, Racial Justice, Trial Practice and Comparative Anti-Discrimination Law. She has participated in the Sudreau Global Justice Program in both Uganda and India, and taught in the London Program. Professor Goodman also has taught courses in Community Outreach/Youth Mentoring, Criminal Law, and Trial Preparation and Settlement. She serves as an advisor to the American Constitution Society Chapter, and formerly served as adviser to the Black Law Students Association, and Women's Legal Association, and as a mock trial team coach. Professor Goodman writes on equal protection topics, including implicit bias, algorithmic bias, affirmative action, preferences, diversity and racial privacy, as well as evidentiary and criminal law issues. The second edition of her book, California Evidence, in Aspen's Examples and Explanations series, as well as the Seventh edition of the Mendez, Goodman and Mainero Evidence textbook are now available.

While at Stanford Law School, Professor Goodman served on the board of directors for the Annual Women of Color and the Law Conference, worked as a teaching assistant in the political science department, and was an assistant editor for a new journal on gender issues. After law school, she worked as an associate at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips (1991-93) and Gipson, Hoffman & Pancione (1993-1995), engaging in civil litigation in state and federal courts. In 1995, Professor Goodman began teaching at UCLA, and created and taught a course in lawyering skills for public interest attorneys.

Professor Goodman was elected to the prestigious American Law Institute in 2023. She also serves on Board of the National Conference of Women' Bar Associations, previously as Vice President of Finance, and Treasurer. Professor Goodman served as the Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Outreach of the Los Angeles County Bar Association for two years.  She is a former chair of both the AALS Litigation Section and of the Evidence Section. She served on the board of Schools on Wheels, a local nonprofit that provides tutors and school supplies for homeless youths, and currently serves on the board of the Western Center on Law and Poverty. She has been an officer of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, the 2016-2017 President of California Women Lawyers, and the 2017-18 President of its Foundation. Professor Goodman is a frequent speaker on the subject of diversity, equity, inclusion, and implicit and algorithmic bias.

Professor Goodman is now based at Pepperdine's new campus outside of Vevey Switzerland, and commuted to London each week in the fall to teach Constitutional Law for the London Program. As a newly elected member of the American Law Institute, she is looking forward to playing a larger role in legal policy both in the United States and abroad.

Hon. Samantha P. Jessner

Judge Jessner is the current Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court. She was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court in 2007. She had served as Assistant Presiding Judge, Supervising Judge of the Civil Division, Assistant Supervising Judge of the Civil Division, and Supervising Judge of the Mental Health Courthouse. She had also served in the Criminal Division.

In 2017, Judge Jessner was appointed by the California Supreme Court to serve on the Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions (CJEO). She is also a member of the Information Technology Advisory Committee and the Civil and Small Claims Committee of the Judicial Council. She is actively involved in teaching and developing ethics curriculum for new judges and has served on the Qualifying Ethics Work Group. She also teaches the Civil Law Update and Basic Civil Law Overview seminars for the Rutter Group.

Judge Jessner is a founding member of the Association of African American California Judicial Officers, as well as a member of the National Association of Women Judges and the Trusteeship, which is the Southern California chapter of the International Women’s Forum.

Before her judicial career, Judge Jessner gained experience as a litigation associate at Sheppard Mullin. She was an Assistant United States Attorney for 11 years with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. She was also in-house counsel for The Boeing Company and an Assistant Inspector General for the Los Angeles Police Commission.

Lydia Liberio

Lydia Liberio, Esq. LLM MCIArb MBA PMP RMP CFE, is a multifaceted legal professional with a distinguished career that spans civil litigation, mediation, arbitration, and education in complex corporate, employment, insurance, real estate, and family matters. With her extensive background in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), including an LLM in ADR from USC, Liberio excels as a mediator, arbitrator, and litigator across various administrative agency settings. She is recognized for her expertise as a certified risk manager, fraud examiner, and agile project and program manager, bringing invaluable in-house legal department management and contract compliance experience to her roles.

As the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Abraham Lincoln University, Liberio stands out as a leader and innovator in academic support, faculty development, and curricular innovation. Reporting directly to the Chief Academic Officer, she plays a crucial role in overseeing all aspects of academic affairs, from curriculum maintenance to faculty and student support, underscoring her commitment to educational excellence. Her responsibilities extend to student orientation and retention, collaborating closely with the Dean of School of Law and other institutional personnel in strategic planning and management.

In addition to her administrative achievements, Liberio is a dedicated professor and mentor, influencing the next generation of legal and business professionals through her work as a curriculum designer for law, paralegal, criminal justice, criminology, business, and project management programs. Her contributions to the legal community are further enriched by her volunteer work as a pro bono mediator for the US EEOC & L.A. County Dept. of Consumer & Business Affairs and her participation on the LASC Judge Pro Tem Panel, where her wisdom and expertise continue to make a significant impact.

Gretchen Nelson

Gretchen Nelson's illustrious career in law began after graduating from Georgetown University Law Center in 1983, a journey inspired by her father, James A. Nelson, who instilled in her a fervent passion for justice. Admitted to the State Bar of California in January of 1984, she initially honed her skills at Morgan, Wenzel & McNicholas in Los Angeles, focusing on insurance defense. Her dedication to seeking justice was profoundly demonstrated in 1986 when she represented families affected by a tragic midair collision involving an Aeromexico jet and a private plane, offering not only legal representation but emotional support to the bereaved families.

Her legal journey took a significant turn in 1988 when she joined Corinblit and Seltzer, pivoting her focus towards representing class claimants in antitrust and securities fraud claims. After the firm disbanded a decade later, Nelson continued her practice independently until joining forces with Kreindler & Kreindler to open their Los Angeles office, alongside Stuart Fraenkel.

Throughout her career, Nelson has contributed significantly to the California legal community. Her service includes a three-year term on the Board of Trustees for the State Bar of California, where she made history as the organization’s first Treasurer from 2012 to 2013. Her leadership roles extend to being a past President of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and serving as the Chair of its Litigation Section. Additionally, she is an emeritus member of the Board of Governors of the Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles, reflecting her enduring influence and commitment to the legal profession.

Nelson's efforts have consistently focused on promoting diversity within the legal field and supporting female attorneys in balancing their professional and family lives. In 2015, she co-founded Nelson & Frankel LLP with Mr. Fraenkel, where she continues to specialize in complex class action litigation, business tort claims, and representing victims of maritime accidents. Her remarkable career is a testament to her unwavering dedication to justice and her impactful contributions to the legal community.

Karina Sterman

Karina B. Sterman, Partner in Greenberg Glusker’s Litigation and Employment Law Departments, is a creative and ardent advocate for her clients. Her practice includes representing businesses in wage and hour class action and PAGA lawsuits as well as in discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and other employment disputes. In addition to her role as Chair of Los Angeles County Bar Association's Diversity in the Profession Committee, Sterman is actively involved in professional affiliations such as serving as Chair on the Primerus Women Lawyers Section Executive Committee, a Member on the Primerus Labor & Employment Practice Group Executive Committee, and as a Former Board Member for StepUp Women's Network (Los Angeles).

Her commitment extends beyond her professional endeavors as she dedicates her time as a Pro Bono Volunteer for Alliance for Children’s Rights and as an Event Volunteer for CASA DC. With a strong track record of recognition, Sterman has been consistently listed in Southern California Super Lawyers for Employment Litigation from 2014 to 2024 and previously as a Rising Star in Employment Law from 2005 to 2012. Her high level of professional excellence is underscored by the "AV Preeminent" rating from Martindale Hubbell, signifying the highest standards in legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical conduct as recognized by her peers.

Sterman is not only a seasoned attorney but also a published author and a sought-after speaker on employment and intellectual property law. Her dedication to legal education is evident in her role as the former California Women Lawyers District 7 Governor. Sterman earned her J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law in 1997 and her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1993.

 

Visit LACBA's official Women's History Month bios page to meet past honorees.