Huey Elected Head of Harvard Law Review

The Harvard Law Review, one of the nation’s most prestigious legal journals, elected second-year law student Joanna N. Huey ’06 as its 123rd president earlier this month.

Huey was chosen in a closed process from a pool of self-nominated candidates that traditionally includes some of the Law School’s top students.

Speaking with The Crimson in the Law Review’s Gannett House headquarters, Huey said she hoped to maintain the journal’s standards of scholarship.

“My main goal is to keep doing what my predecessors have been doing—the leadership team from last year have done a great job on both the scholarship side and the community side,” Huey said. “I’m hoping to keep things on the same track.”

Unlike many other student groups, top leaders at the Law Review do not take office with a specific agenda; rather, Huey said, the president’s primary focus is “to put out the best journal possible.”

Huey steps into a storied office, which has served as a stepping stone to future success for many Law School graduates, including President Barack Obama.

The student-run Law Review is given top billing among the nation’s legal journals, attracting unsolicited submissions in many fields of legal scholarship from professors across the country.

The Law Review has no formal ties to Harvard University and, with a circulation of 4000, maintains financial independence.

Huey did not specify how the Law Review’s financial footing would be affected by the current economic downturn or what steps she would take to ensure the journal’s financial well-being.

Huey assumes the Law Review presidency from Robert W. Allen, a third-year law student.

Allen said he had confidence in the new president and thought she would continue the journal’s reputation for top scholarship.

“The qualities that we look for in a president are someone who is smart, hard-working, and easy to get along with, and I think Joanna embodies those qualities,” Allen said.

“I was surprised to have the opportunity to do this, and I think it’s an incredible privilege and honor.” Huey said. “I hope I can live up to the reputation, history, and standards of the Review.”

Last year, the Law Review instituted a new technology chair to expand the journal’s publications in law and technology. Although the chair remains “nebulous,” it represents an avenue of potential expansion, Huey said.

Huey, a California native, graduated from Harvard College in 2006 with a degree in physics and math. She is pursuing a joint-degree from the Kennedy School and the Law School.

—Staff writer Elias J. Groll can be reached at egroll@fas.harvard.edu.