Two University of Wyoming College of Law Students Selected to the Editorial Board of the Harvard Journal of Law and Policy's Symposium Issue

Two University of Wyoming College of Law Students were selected to the editorial board of the Harvard Journal of Law and Policy’s Thirty-Ninth Annual Federalist Society National Student Symposium Issue. Rising 2L Elizabeth Stephani of Centennial, Colo., and rising 3L Nathan Cowper of Laramie, are the first students ever from the University of Wyoming to be selected for the prestigious position.

The Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy (HJLPP) is one of seventeen student produced scholarly journals at Harvard Law School, and is published three times annually by the Harvard Society for Law & Public Policy, Inc., an organization of Harvard Law School students. The Journal is one of the top five most widely circulated law reviews.

For the Symposium Edition, students from other law schools are invited to apply to serve on the board. Students are chosen based on their editing abilities, attention to detail, knowledge of Bluebook citations, and demonstrated commitment to the Journal. A notable alumni of the HJLPP is Justice Neil Gorsuch, who is scheduled to visit the University of Wyoming later this fall.

Stephani and Cowper both served as research assistants to Professor George Mocsary during their 1L year. They were encouraged to apply to the editorial board at his recommendation.

“Nathan and Lizzie will be excellent additions to the HJLPP’s editorial board,” says Mocsary. “Their demonstrated initiative and abilities, honed by their College of Law experiences, will ensure that they excel in their roles.”

A leading periodical for conservative and libertarian legal scholarship, the HJLPP often explores issues and hotly debated topics as they relate to the Constitution. The 2020 National Student Symposium took place in March online and examined the Structural Constitution in the 21^st Century. The upcoming symposium edition of the law review will feature panel transcripts and articles surrounding the theme of the event.

With an interest in sustainability, public land management and a passion for private property rights, Stephani came to the College of Law after earning her bachelor’s degree in Government with a Minor in Environmental Science and Policy from Smith College in 2018. Prior to starting law school, she spent a 4 months in South Africa working on a waste management project, and also gained experience as a fellow at the Colorado Secretary of State’s office and as a Project Manager for a non-profit called AeroAngel. 

In addition to editing articles this summer, she is working as an extern with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Denver, Colo.

A local, Cowper grew up in Laramie where he was inspired to earn a law degree by two aunts that are both College of Law alumnae. He attended the University of Wyoming for his undergraduate degree, which he earned in English in 2017. Prior to attending law school, he worked as a research assistant for the late Professor John M. Burman, who also inspired him to pursue a career in law.

Following law school, Cowper plans to work as an advocate of individual liberties, especially those protected by the 2nd amendment. He has served as an extern with the Laramie City Attorney’s Office, and is currently working for the Firearms Policy Coalition, a non-profit, non-partisan organization advocating for individual liberty and important constitutional rights.

“I am excited and humbled by the opportunity to work as an editor for the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy Federalist Society Symposium Edition,” comments Cowper. “I believe strongly in the goals of the Federalist Society, namely the promotion of individual liberty, traditional values, and the rule of law, and I am humbled by this incredible opportunity.”

The symposium edition is expected to be published and available in Volume 44 of the HJLPP in the fall.