On December 9, 2015, Professor Heidi Gorovitz Robertson, Steven W. Percy Distinguished Professor of Law, was a panelist at the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.  The panel, Home Rule and Preemption in Ohio, was a joint program of the CMBA’s Environmental Law and Local Government Law sections.  The panel was organized by CM Law alumnus, Carter Strang (Tucker Ellis), and in addition to Professor Robertson included the past Chair of the Ohio Oil and Gas Commission and the General Counsel for the City of Broadview Heights.

Professor Heidi Gorovitz Robertson

Heidi Gorovitz Robertson, Steven W. Percy Distinguished Professor of Law, was a panelist on the 2016 AALS Annual Meeting Arc of the Career series panel, The AALS In Spite of Itself: How to Use the AALS for Professional Development Even If It Sometimes Makes You Mad, with former CM Law Professor David V. Snyder (American) and others.  In addition, Professor Robertson was appointed to the Executive Committee of the AALS section on Natural Resources and Energy Law, and elected that section’s Treasurer.

Professor Geier’s E-Textbook

Professor Deborah Geier‘s updated free e-textbook for use in the first Federal Income Tax course is now available at www.cali.org/books/us-federal-income-taxation-individuals-2016. Pdf and Word formats can be downloaded immediately, and e-reader versions for iPads and Kindles can be downloaded by January 15. “U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Individuals 2016” is fully updated to incorporate changes in law through December 2015, including the so-called extenders legislation enacted in mid-December and the 2016 rate tables, standard deduction, and personal exemption deduction. A Teacher’s Manual is available for professors who use the textbook in their tax course.

Professor Gwendolyn Majette (on the right) and Professor Milena Sterio, at the United Nations, during the 2016 AALS International Law Section Field Trip

Professor and Associate Dean Milena Sterio moderated a panel at the 2016 AALS Annual Meeting in New York City on January 8, entitled “Human Rights and Families.”  The program was organized by the AALS International Human Rights Law Section.  In addition, at the same conference, Professor Sterio spoke as a panelist at an AALS Discussion Group entitled “Increasing Author Diversity in Legal Scholarship: Individual and Institutional Strategies” on January 9.  Finally, Professor Sterio and Professor Gwendolyn Majette both participated in the AALS International Law Section field trip on January 7 to the United Nations building.

At the AALS Annual Meeting, Professor Sterio was elected Chair of the International Human Rights Law Section and Secretary of the International Law Section.

Clinical Professor of Law Doron Kalir was recently invited to St. Paul Church in Cleveland Heights to speak about the relation between spirituality and politics. His talk focused on Old Testament text and some founding American constitutional documents, which together – one hopes – may bridge the gap that currently exists between the two realms.

Clinical Professor Doron Kalir

Clinical Professor of Law Doron Kalir recently completed a six-lecture series on the philosophy of Jewish faith at Congregation B’nai-Jeshurun, one of the largest conservative synagogues at Cleveland. The series touched on the sources of the Jewish faith, its fundamental texts, and the tools it may provide for dealing with today’s world.

At the 2016 AALS Annual Meeting in New York City, Professor Matthew Green was appointed to the executive committee of the Section on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues.

Professor Mead has threatened a lawsuit against the City of Akron unless the City immediately repeals its anti-panhandling ordinance.  Under Akron’s ordinance, individuals who are soliciting donations are required to obtain a license from the City, are banned from asking for donations after dark, and are prohibited from soliciting in various public spaces throughout the city.  In a letter and supporting memorandum sent to the Mayor and City Council, available here, Professor Mead explains how these restrictions unconstitutionally discriminate against charitable solicitation and violate the First Amendment right to communicate one’s needs.

These arguments build on Professor Mead’s publication, The First Amendment Protection of Charitable Speech, which was published last year in the Ohio State Law Journal Furthermore.  Professor Mead has a joint appointment with the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, and is handling this matter in connection with the ACLU of Ohio.

Professor David Forte

Professor David Forte participated in drafting an Amicus Brief for Amici Curiae Constitutional Law Scholars in Support of Petitioners in the case of Little Sisters of the Poor v. Burwell before the United States Supreme Court

On January 6, 2016, Professor Forte participated, along with Andrew McCarthy, Senior Fellow, National Review Institute, in a Teleforum sponsored by The Federalist Society on “The War on Terror: What’s in a Word?”

Professor John Plecnik at Swearing In Ceremony, with CM Alumnus, Judge Mark Bartolotta of the Lake County Probate Court

On January 4, Willoughby Hills City Council voted to elect Professor John Plecnik as Vice President and Chair of the Finance Committee.  More details about this position are available at Professor Plecnik’s website.  Professor Plecnik was recently re-elected to his second term as councilman at the Willoughby Hills City Council.  Professor Plecnik was sworn in by CM Law alumnus, Judge Mark Bartolotta of the Lake County Probate Court.