Professor Khan Publishes on “Knowledge Intermediaries”

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Professor Mehtab Khan published an article titled “Knowledge Intermediaries” on Verfassungsblog, a global forum for international experts to publish cutting-edge commentary on public law.

Professor Khan argues that AI systems are changing “from a research aid to what I call a knowledge intermediary: an institution or platform that now serves as an interface between the researcher and the primary material, influencing not just what is found but how it is understood and built upon.” She warns that as AI knowledge intermediaries “absorb more of the analytical and creative work of legal and academic knowledge production, we risk sidelining the standards that define both fields, as well as the people and institutions that occupy places of expertise.”

Professor Khan identifies various risks connected with delegating too much work to knowledge intermediaries, and stresses the need for academic resesarchers to have “the capacity to engage with [information] in ways that allow you to persuade and produce compelling arguments.”

Professor Khan Interviewed on AI Regulation and Rogue Agents

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Professor Mehtab Khan was interviewed by WFMJ Channel 21 News in Youngstown, Ohio, in a story titled “When A.I. goes rogue, who’s responsible?” Professor Khan addressed a series of questions about liability for harm caused by A.I. agents.

Professor Khan emphasized that A.I. products, like all consumer products, are already covered by a range of consumer, labor, cybersecurity, and antitrust laws. She explained that A.I. companies can potentially be held liable for problems with the “product design.”

Professor Khan identified two main concerns of legal scholars with emerging A.I. technologies. First, in the short term, she explained that “we need to apply existing obligations, as far as cybersecurity, privacy, consumder protection, and labor protections.” Second, she identified the longer-run risk that “we would place too much power in the hands of companies to self-regulate.”

Professor Sterio Presents at American Society of International Law Conference in California

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Professor Milena Sterio organized and moderated a panel session at the American Society of International Law Midyear Meeting Conference at Santa Clara University School of Law on November 5-7. Professor Sterio’s session focused on the theme of “Litigating Gender,” and papers explored how the crime of reproductive violence is investigated and prosecuted at the International Criminal Court; how/whether the International Court of Justice has engaged with gender themes; and how a transnational legal network has been forming in the Global South in order to counter anti-LGBTQ laws and policies.

Professor Sterio also participated in the Women in International Law Interest Group at ASIL coffee hour. Professor Sterio served as WILIG co-chair for three years and currently serves on WILIG’s executive council.

Appellate Clinic Students File Amicus Brief with the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

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Professor Fareed Hayat — a law professor, then at Howard University Law School, and today at Seton Hall — was erroneously accused of having abducted three children, when in fact he had simply placed his own children in his car. When police approached him at his home, he denied any wrongdoing and retreated into his house. Police broke into his home, threw him to the floor, and handcuffed him in front of his own children and wife. When they realized their error, they left. Professor Hayat sued, but lost — both at the district court level and in front of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Georgetown Law Clinic, which represents Hayat, turned to the CSU Law Appellate Practice Clinic to author an Amicus Brief in support of a petition to the Fourth Circuit to rehear this case en banc. The Brief was on behalf of several nationally-ranked Fourth Amendment Scholars, including CSU Law Professor Jonathan Witmer Rich.

The Clinic students immediately responded to the call. Faith Croskey, Renata Kosc-Harmatiy, Matt Mayberry, and Rachel Revehl spent long days, nights, and weekends to properly understand the complex legal issues involved — including current Supreme Court jurisprudence, the limits of a Terry stop (which began right here, less than a few blocks from the Law School), and the role of Amici in persuading a Federal Court of Appeals to reverse the panel’s opinion.

Professor Doron Kalir supervised the work and served as counsel of record.

Debbie Hoffman Recognized as Inaugural mPower Visionary Award Nominee

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Debbie Hoffman, Director of the P. Kelly Tompkins Leadership and Law Center, was recognized as an inaugural nominee for the Mortgage Bankers Association’s mPower Visionary Awards at the mPowering You Summit on October 10 in Chicago. The new awards celebrate leadership, impact, and the power of women supporting women in the mortgage banking industry. 

The nominees were recognized during mPowering You, MBA’s Summit for Women in Real Estate Finance, held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in conjunction with MBA Annual 2026. The Summit brought together women from across the industry for programming focused on leadership, professional development, connection, and advancement. 

Hoffman has maintained a longstanding connection to the mortgage banking industry throughout her legal and academic career. At Cleveland State, she helped bring the Mortgage Banking Bound program to the University in partnership with MBA and CSU’s Monte Ahuja College of Business. She continues to teach in the program, which connects students directly with industry professionals and introduces them to the business, legal, regulatory, and operational aspects of residential mortgage banking.

While in Chicago, Hoffman also participated in MBA Annual and met with industry leaders to continue developing opportunities for collaboration and engagement with Cleveland State students.

Professors Luisetto and Sagers Presents at the BYU Future of Antitrust Conference

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Professors Luisetto and Sagers both presented at the at the BYU Future of Antitrust Conference, held at BYU and Sundance in Provo on October 9-10.

Luisetto presented his paper “Regulatory Failures Behind the Global Rise of Noncompetes.” Using survey data from employers and employees across fifteen OECD countries, his paper finds that between 15% and 40% of workers are subject to noncompetes, many of which are unenforceable or unrelated to legitimate business interests yet still shape workers job search behavior. 

Sagers presented “Federal Antitrust in Light of Contemporary Experience,” a historical examination of antitrust reform efforts. His paper raises questions about the law’s enforceability and suggests certain systematic institutional challenges that have gone unaddressed and may help explain enforcement difficulties.

Professor Sterio Moderates Webinar, Podcast for International Law Association

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Professor Milena Sterio moderated a webinar on September 30, hosted by the American Branch of the International Law Association’s Gender Justice in International Law Committee. The webinar featured a discussion with Professor Margaret Satterthwaite, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; and Ambassador Namira Negm, the first woman Legal Counsel of the African Union.

The panelists discussed the Rapporteur’s June 2026 report on Principles for judicial appointments. Professor Sterio moderated the webinar with Dr Jessica Corsi, City University London.

Professor Sterio also co-hosted an episode of the International Law Chats podcast published on October 4. The podcast, published monthly, is hosted by the American Branch of the International Law Association, and it is co-hosted by Professor Sterio, Professor Chiara Giorgetti, and Alison McDonald, KC. This episode featured a conversation among the three co-hosts, titled “Meet the Hosts!” Professor Sterio and her co-hosts shared parts of their personal journeys toward international law, discussed their current work projects, and current challenges in international law.

Professor Sterio Presents in London, Copenhagen on International Law Topics

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Professor Milena Sterio presented at the London Conference on International Law on October 1, in London, United Kingdom, on a panel entitled “Challenges to Statehood: From Conflicts to Climate Change.” The London Conference is one of the most prestigious international law conferences globally; it is organized by the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office and the British Institute for International and Comparative Law, in partnership with law firms. Professor Sterio’s remarks focused on whether Palestine satisfies the international law criteria for statehood.

Professor Milena Sterio presented at the International Bar Association Annual Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 7 and October 8.

On October 7, she presented on the panel titled “The Global Legal Order: The Need for a Reboot.” Professor Sterio’s remarks focused on current challenges regarding use of force rules under international law, as well as on current threats against international institutions such as the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

On October 8, she presented on a panel entitled “AI in Conflict,” where her remarks focused on the need to lower the threshold for individual criminal responsibility under international criminal law in situations where autonomous weapons systems enabled by AI commit international crimes. Professor Sterio also attended the IBA Foundation board meeting where she serves as a trustee.

Navi Pillay, Interviewed by Professor Milena Sterio, Wins Nobel Peace Prize

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Navi Pillay – a South African jurist, former judge on the Rwanda Tribunal, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and currently judge at the International Court of Justice – has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Professor Milena Sterio, the Director of CSU Law’s International Law Center, interviewed Navi Pillay in 2024 in a webinar hosted by the American Branch of the International Law Association. The webinar is available here.

According to the Nobel Prize Organization, “In historic international court cases, she has shown that legal measures can help prevent acts of war and violence. Navi Pillay has also contributed to strengthen the institutions of international law. Her independence, expertise and steadfastness have made her one of the most respected international jurists of our time.”

CSU Law Leaders-in-Residence Share Lessons on “Leading Without a Title”

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Three P. Kelly Tompkins Leadership and Law Center Leaders-in-Residence (LIR) joined CSU Law students on September 23, 2026 to discuss what leadership looks like before you have a formal title. Judge Ronald B. Adrine, retired Cleveland Municipal Court Judge; Kim Bixenstine, retired Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of University Hospitals; and Carter Strang, retired founding partner of Tucker Ellis LLP shared advice drawn from decades of experience across law, business and public service.

Their message converged around four ideas. Find work that genuinely matters to you and do it well; responsibility follows. Develop a leadership style that is authentically yours, not a copy of someone else’s. Know not just when to take initiative, but how: “Nine times out of 10, it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it,” Judge Adrine told students. And invest in relationships over titles. “Leadership, at the end of the day, is really all about relationships,” he said.

Each closed with a single piece of advice for students: act with integrity, become indispensable, and stay humble. As Judge Adrine put it: “There is no substitute for sound research.”