Professor Doron Kalir’s paper, on the rise of White Christian Nationalism and the threat it poses to the Jewish community in America, was recently accepted by the editors of the third annual “Law vs. Antisemitism” symposium. Next year’s symposium will be held in February at Florida International University School of Law in Miami. In the paper, Kalir explores the First Amendment doctrines relevant to such rise, in particular freedom of speech and the Free Exercise Clause. Relying in large part on the Supreme Court’s recent Counterman v. Colorado, 143 S.Ct. 2106 (2023), Kalir argues that many of the actions and rhetoric used by WCN may rise to the level of “true threats of violence,” and therefore may not merit First Amendment protection.

Professor Mark Sundahl, in collaboration with first-year student Caylan Fazio, recently published an article on the Australian Outlook website. The article, titled “How Private Companies and NASA’s Artemis Accords Will Shape Space Law,” offers a comprehensive exploration of the evolving landscape of space law. Hosted on the online portal of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, the piece has already gained attention and recognition, with Lunapolitics featuring it prominently. The full article can be found here: How Private Companies and NASA’s Artemis Accords Will Shape Space Law

Leon M. and Gloria Plevin Professor of Law Brian Ray joined the NPR program LAist’s AirTalk to discuss recent U.S. Senate hearings on artificial intelligence (AI) with Sarah Myers West, managing director of AI Now Institute. Here’s the show description:

Some of the biggest names in tech have been flooding Capitol Hill this week as several Congressional meetings are taking place to outline comprehensive AI regulation and policy. The main event, held Wednesday, was a closed-door meeting between all 100 senators and tech giants including Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter (now rebranded as X), Mark Zuckerburg, co-founder of facebook, Bill Gates, co-founder Microsoft, and Sam Altman, CEO of the ChatGPT company OpenAI. The forum is part of an effort by a bipartisan group of senators, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, to create AI legislation. However, the forum has received criticism from others in the tech and media space for not being open to the public and seemingly prioritizing the opinions of tech companies over researchers, employees and activists. Among the CEOs invited to speak were also civil society members such as AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights President and CEO Maya Wiley. Senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Josh Hawley of Missouri also recently introduced a framework for the US AI Act calling for more transparency in training data and registration requirements for AI companies. So, what exactly is Congress hoping to get out of these discussions? And what kind of AI regulation can we expect in the near future?

In a recent feature in Cleveland Magazine, Dean Lee Fisher shares valuable life lessons that transcend the boundaries of legal education. He encourages aspiring lawyers to see themselves as more than just professionals in the making; rather, as future custodians of civility, defenders of democracy, and guardians of justice. Dean Fisher’s message serves as a powerful reminder to CSU’s 1L class: always remember your “why.”
You can read the full articles here: Message to our First Year Class

Last week, Professor Milena Sterio participated in the International Humanitarian Law Roundtable in Chautauqua, New York. The IHL Roundtable is a conference which assembles academics, experts, and international criminal tribunals’ prosecutors and judges to discuss relevant topics in international humanitarian law. This year, Professor Sterio co-chaired a sub-group at the IHL Roundtable on the topic of Cyber Attacks under the International Criminal Court’s Rome Statute. In addition, Professor Sterio provided the formal introduction and welcome for the Katherine B. Fite lecturer, Binta Mansaray, Registrar at the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone.

(From left to right): Fatou Bensouda, former ICC Prosecutor and the Gambian Ambassador to the United Kingdom; Professor Sterio; Professor Jennifer Trahan, NYU; Professor Yvonne Dutton, Indiana University McKinney School of Law; Professor Leila Sadat, Washington University School of Law.

(From left to right): Fatou Bensouda; Professor Sterio; Michael Scharf, Co-Dean of Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

Laura Ray, Outreach & Instructional Services Librarian, presented a poster and podium program at the 2023 American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting in Boston, MA. In her poster presentation, “Effective Design and Delivery of Online/Remote Courses and Instructional Sessions,” Laura emphasized the importance of active learning principles and collaboration in designing successful online courses. Key elements include instructor training and collaboration with instructional designers, AV technicians, and librarians, as well as designing around presence and interaction.

In her podium program, “Whiskey and the Law: A Legal History of Whiskey in America,” Laura explored the fascinating history of whiskey in the United States, from the Whiskey Rebellion to modern craft distilleries. Alongside Dave Willis, Co-Founder and Head of Whiskey Production, Production, Bully Boy Distillers, she provided insights into the legal aspects of distilled spirit production. Dave discussed key legislation, as well as key federal, state, and municipal regulations, affecting current distilled spirit production.

Last week, Professor Heidi Gorovitz Robertson served as a Discussant at the “Permitting the Future” workshop at Case Western Reserve University. This event was jointly hosted by the Coleman P. Burke Center for Environmental Law at the Case Western Reserve School of Law and the Property and Environment Research Center.

The workshop delved into the legal and economic dimensions of current environmental and energy permitting and review requirements, contemplating whether these regulatory approaches might hinder environmental progress. Attended by a select group of 15 invited scholars from diverse fields, the event featured the examination of seven papers commissioned by the Burke Center. These papers were distributed to all participants in advance for in-depth discussion during the workshop.

In his thought-provoking guest column published in The Columbus Dispatch on September 8, 2023, Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Cleveland State University College of Law, Steven H. Steinglass, delves into the critical issue of home rule and gun safety. Steinglass raises the fundamental question of whether the Ohio General Assembly has the authority to override city gun laws, igniting a conversation about the delicate balance between state and local governance in shaping firearm regulations. His insightful piece serves as a compelling reminder of the ongoing debate surrounding Second Amendment rights and the autonomy of municipalities in addressing the complex issue of gun control. To read more on this topic, check out the full article here: https://www.dispatch.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2023/09/07/does-the-ohio-general-assembly-have-the-right-to-stop-city-gun-laws-columbus-firearms-constitution/70722690007/

In October, Professor Debbie Hoffman will be moderating a session titled “Data Privacy, Legal and Operational Concerns with the Rise of Artificial Intelligence” at ECPI University’s Women in Cyber Security summit. Accompanying her on the panel will be Elizabeth Wharton, Vice President of Operations at SCYTHE; Courtney H. Jackson, CEO of Paragon Cyber Solutions LLC; Jari Peters, Vice President of Global Information Security Governance at Oracle; and Rosemary Kuperberg, Associate General Counsel for Privacy at Demandbase. Additional information is available here: https://sway.office.com/JlSsMapZqdp8XUNq

On September 5th, Professor Debbie Hoffman is set to appear on The Texas Real Estate & Finance Podcast with Mike Mills, where she will discuss the topics of blockchain and cryptocurrency in the real estate finance sector. Joining her for the discussion will be Eric Lapin, President of FormFree. The podcast can be accessed here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-texas-real-estate-finance-podcast-with-mike-mills/id1650029207