California Western School of Law Alumni Reunion and Celebration
Dean Baer and the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.
San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan and members of the DA's office celebrating with recipient Agustín Peña '12.
CWSL faculty and students enjoy the evening.
California Western School of Law (CWSL) welcomed alumni, faculty, students, and friends to its Alumni Reunion and Celebration on October 17, 2025.
Over 150 celebrants came together to reconnect and honor the institution and its successful graduates. Attendees included judges, law firm partners, in-house counsel, and several community partners, including the San Diego District Attorney, Summer Stephan, who came to cheer on one of her deputies, Agustín Peña '12, who was an honoree.
The evening celebrated our ten Distinguished Alumni Award recipients:
Distinguished Judicial Alumni Award
Justice Judith L. Haller ’75
Associate Justice, Fourth District California Court of Appeal (Ret.)
Judge Michael D. Washington ’94
Judge at San Diego Superior Court, County of San Diego
Distinguished Practitioner Award
Anne S. Bautista ‘97
Director of Legal Support and Strategy, Casa Cornelia
Monica Lopez Reinmiller ‘98
Chief Compliance Officer and VP of Legal, Panasonic North America
Janice Y. Walshok ‘08
Shareholder, Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin
Rising Star Award
Claudia L. Ignacio ‘18
CEO, CI Tax Law, Inc.
Christopher J. Lee ‘16
Founding Partner, Golshani Lee LLP
California Western Legacy Award
Deborah Dixon ‘07
Founding Partner, The Dixon Firm
Agustín Peña '12
Deputy District Attorney, San Diego County
Dean’s Courage Award
Michael Lasso ‘23
Judicial Law Clerk, Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada
Many thanks to all our alumni and the faculty and staff who helped make this event happen at the Omni La Costa Resort Spa.
Read more about the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.
About California Western School of Law
For 100 years, California Western School of Law (CWSL) has trained practice-ready lawyers and thoughtful advocates for justice. As the first and longest-running law school in San Diego, CWSL remains committed to providing students with the fundamental knowledge, skills, and real-world experience to thrive in a rapidly evolving legal landscape. CWSL enrolls a student body representative of our diverse society, amplifying access to opportunities for social and economic mobility. Tailored programming allows students to focus on specific areas of interest, and distinguished faculty are dedicated to student growth and scholarship on critical social issues. The law school emphasizes practical, hands-on training through clinics, internships, externships, and pro bono service. CWSL is committed to excellence in education, nurturing compassionate legal professionals who use the law effectively and creatively to solve complex human and societal problems. For more information, visit www.CWSL.edu.