Robertson Presents Two Papers at the International Academic Association of Planning, Law, and Property Rights Annual Meeting

Professor Heidi Gorovitz Robertson attended the International Academic Association of Planning, Law, and Property Rights Annual Meeting at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.  She presented two papers. The first, presented with Dr. Rebecca Leshinksy from RMIT in Melbourne, Australia, focuses on property rights in radio-frequency spectrum allocations (“Spectrum Licensing, Property Theory, and Ecological Interference”).  The paper will be submitted for peer review later this spring.  The second presentation was associated with Professor Robertson’s work in Ohio on the state’s view of local involvement in decision-making concerning energy development facilities (“What’s Real and Remaining – A Framework for Agency Decision‑Making to Reduce Ohio’s Legislative Bias Against Renewable Energy”).  She plans to submit this draft to journals this spring.

Robertson is the Steven W. Percy Professor of Law at the College of Law and Professor of Environmental Studies at the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education, Cleveland State University.

Witmer-Rich Comments on Police Use of Facial Recognition

Professor Jonathan Witmer-Rich was quoted in an article titled, “Cleveland police use facial recognition without training or transparency on its use,” published by Ideastream Public Media. The article discusses a recent criminal case in which Cleveland police used facial recognition technology to obtain a search warrant in a murder investigation.

In recent public comments to City Council, Cleveland Public Safety Director Wayne Drummond stated that the Cleveland Real Time Crime Center does not use facial recognition technology. However, the recent criminal case shows that the Real Time Crime Center sent images to the Northeast Ohio Fusion Center, which conducted the facial recognition search on their behalf.

Professor Witmer-Rich opined that Cleveland police should be more open about what technology they’re using and how they’re using it.

“What body of images do we want the police to be using if, if using it at all?” Witmer-Rich said. “And is it anything that a company can scrape off of the internet, or should it be something more limited than that? Something that’s limited to a certain set of images that we know are reliable or that we know haven’t been manipulated?”

Professor Sterio Speaks at British International Law Studies Association Event

Professor Milena Sterio spoke at the British International Law Studies Association webinar on February 24, on the topic of “Trump, US Foreign Policy, and International Law.”  Professor Sterio’s remarks focused on use of force issues under international law in light of President Trump’s intervention in Venezuela, and the Administration’s threats against Iran and Greenland.  

Professor Hoffman Featured in News Story on Road Construction Impact on Local Businesses

Professor Deborah Hoffman, Visiting Assistant Professor of Law at Cleveland State University College of Law, was featured in a news segment by WEWS News 5 Cleveland addressing legal issues related to prolonged road construction and its impact on local businesses.

The story focuses on a Geneva, Ohio business affected by extended infrastructure work. Professor Hoffman provided commentary on legal considerations involving business access, notice, and the limits of government authority.

The segment includes both a written article and video interview and is available here.

Professor Kalir Presents at Inaugural “Faith, Values, and the Rule of Law” Conference 

On February 4-5, Seton Hall Law School hosted its first “Faith, Values, and the Rule of Law,” an interdisciplinary conference that hosted theologians, philosophers, and legal scholars. On the first day, during the first opening session, Professor Kalir presented his paper “Jewish Human Dignity: Equality Before God & Men,” which was well received. The Conference hosted both national and international scholars of all stripes and religions, and was crowned a great success. 

Professor Sterio Presents at Armenian International Law Association Conference in Yerevan, Armenia

Professor Milena Sterio was an invited speaker at the Armenian International Law Association Conference in Yerevan, Armenia, on February 14, in Yerevan, Armenia, “Rethinking International Law: Knowledge, Action, Reflection.”

She presented on a panel titled “International Courts and Beyond: Various Pathways of International Law Enforcement” on the specific topic of The Role of Domestic Courts in Global Peace and Security.  In her remarks, Professor Sterio focused on how different courts can play a role in transitions toward peace and security, by holding states responsible for international law violations, and by imposing individual criminal responsibility on perpetrators of atrocity crimes.   

Professor Sterio Co-Hosts International Law Chats Podcast

Professor Milena Sterio co-hosted a new episode of the International Law Chats podcast, a monthly podcast by the American Branch of the International Law Association co-hosted by Professor Sterio, Professor Chiara Giorgetti (University of Richmond Law School), and Alison McDonald, KC.  The episode, published on Feb. 2, 2026, featured as guest Professor Harold Koh, Yale Law School, speaking on “The Future of the International Legal Order.”  Professor Koh is the most highly cited international legal scholar; he is former dean of Yale Law School as well as former Legal Advisor to the U.S. State Department.

Professor Sterio Invited to Publish on Autonomous Weapons Systems in Australian Journal

Professor Milena Sterio has been invited to submit an article to La Trobe University’s (Melbourne, Australia) inaugural volume of the La Trobe University Law Review. The volume will focus on the theme “AI on the Battlefield: Navigating Legal and Ethical Frontiers in 21st Century Conflict,” and Professor Sterio’s article will focus on the issue of individual criminal responsibility for operators of autonomous weapons systems which use AI.

Professor Sterio to Publish on Use of AI in Autonomous Weapons

Professor Milena Sterio has accepted a publication offer from the American University International Law Review, one of the most prestigious international law journals, for her article “Artificial Intelligence, the Use of Autonomous Weapons, and Individual Criminal Responsibility: A Paradox or a Possibility.”  The article will be published in the journal’s forthcoming 2026 issue.

Professor Sterio Ranked in International Law Scholarly Impact Rankings by Hein Online

Professor Milena Sterio ranks 39th in the United States in Scholarly Impact Rankings for International Law scholars, according to Hein Online. Hein Online publishes a list of top 100 scholars by subject area, and Professor Sterio is listed in the International Law Impact Rankings. The impact rankings are based on the number of citations, as well as additional factors.