Governor Brown announces appointments

James Adler, 75, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Law Revision Commission. Adler has been an arbitrator and mediator since 2005. Adler was a partner at Irell and Manella LLP from 1982 to 2005 and a partner at Munger Tolles and Olson LLP from 1965 to 1982. He served as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren and Justice Charles Whittaker from 1961 to 1962. Adler received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $50 per diem. Adler is a Democrat.


Xochitl Carrion, 32, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the California Law Revision Commission. Carrion has been an attorney for Goldfarb and Lipman LLP since 2007. She is a member of the California La Raza Lawyers Association and the San Francisco La Raza Association. Carrion received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $50 per diem. Carrion is a Democrat.

Patricia Cowett, 64, of San Diego, has been appointed to the California Law Revision Commission. Cowett has been a mediator at Alternative Dispute Resolution Services, Inc. since 2009. She served as a judge for the San Diego Superior Court from 1998 to 2008. She served as a judge for the San Diego Municipal Court from 1979 to 1998, and was presiding judge in 1991. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $50 per diem. Cowett is a Democrat.

Jane Dolan, 62, of Chico, has been appointed to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board. She has been the director of the Sacramento River Conservation Area Forum since 2010. She has been a probate referee since 1987. Dolan was a supervisor for Butte County from 1979 to 2011. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $40,669. Dolan is a Democrat.

Victor King, 47, of La Crescenta, has been appointed to the California Law Revision Commission. King has been university legal counsel for California State University, Los Angeles since 2002. He was a partner at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard and Smith LLP from 2001 to 2002 and an associate from 1999 to 2001. King was an associate at Bottum and Feliton from 1996 to 1999 and at Ochoa and Sillas from 1991 to 1995. He was a trustee at the Glendale Community College District from 1997 to 2009. King received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $50 per diem. King is a Democrat.

Crystal Miller-O’Brien, 45, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Law Revision Commission. Miller-O’Brien has served as corporate counsel for Medical Management Consultants, Inc. since 2006. She was an associate for Anderson McPharlin and Connors LLP from 2005 to 2006, for Robie and Matthai PC from 2003 to 2005 and for Bullivant Houser Bailey PC from 2002 to 2003. Miller-O’Brien has served on the board of directors to the California Conference of Bar Associations since 2009. She is a member of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and the National Association of Women Business Owners. Miller-O’Brien received her Juris Doctor degree from Willamette University College of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $50 per diem. Miller-O’Brien is a Democrat.

Jonathan Sargent, 59, of Richmond, has been appointed to the Alarm Company Operator Disciplinary Review Committee. Sargent has been an industry relations and sales and retention manager for ADT Security Services since 2002. He was a regional retention and corporate projects manager for Security Link from Ameritech from 1995 to 2002 and a customer services manager at the National Guardian from 1985 to 1995. He is a member of the California Alarm Association, where he served as president from 2005 to 2008. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Sargent is registered decline-to-state.

Matthew Westphal, 44, of Moraga, has been appointed to the Alarm Company Operator Disciplinary Review Committee. Westphal has been co-president at Bay Alarm Company since 1993. He has been a board member of the Security Network of America since 2001 and the California Alarm Association since 2000, where he served as president from 2009 to 2010. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Westphal is a Republican.