Professor Forte presented an address entitled, “The Founders’ Freedom of Speech (and Ours)” at an event at the University of Buffalo dealing with “Free Speech on Campus.”  The event was co-sponsored by the ACLU, the Federalist Society, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, and the University of Buffalo Civil Liberties Union.

Professor Deborah Geier has agreed to join the Steering Committee of a newly created Cleveland chapter of the International Fiscal Association (IFA), spearheaded by Tom Callahan of Thomson Hine. The IFA is the leading nongovernmental, international organization dealing with tax matters and has more than 12,500 members worldwide in 111 countries, of which 68 have national branches. With nearly 1,000 members, the USA Branch, divided into 17 regions, is one of the largest. IFA USA  provides its members the opportunity to not only keep up to date on current issues and planning techniques but also to meet experienced tax experts from other countries, to strengthen professional relationships, and to rekindle friendships.

Professor Brian Ray was interviewed by WalletHub.com, one of the leading outlets covering the personal finance industry, on identity theft.  Professor Ray’s comments appeared in an article entitled “2017’s States Most Vulnerable to Identity Theft & Fraud.”  The article is available here.

On October 16, 2017, Professor Kevin O’Neill joined U.S. District Court Judge Dan Aaron Polster as co-presenters at a CLE seminar on First Amendment law hosted by the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. The seminar, entitled “Politics on Social Media: First Amendment Implications,” focused on the use and abuse of social media by American politicians. Though more and more elected officials are using Twitter, Facebook, and other social media to communicate with their constituents, some politicians are blocking or censoring constituents who respond with criticism. The seminar reviewed and analyzed recent cases in which politicians were sued after trying to suppress criticism on social media, including a suit against President Trump for blocking some antagonistic Twitter followers.

On October 13, 2017, at an appellate practice CLE seminar staged in the Moot Court Room at Cleveland-Marshall, Professors Jonathan Witmer-Rich and Kevin O’Neill gave a presentation entitled, “Ethical Pitfalls: Discovery Abuse and Spoliation of Evidence.”

Professor and Associate Dean Milena Sterio was interviewed by the BBC World Service on October 11, on the issue of the Catalan independence referendum and declaration of independence.  Professor Sterio had blogged about this issue on iCONnect blog and on Intlawgrrls.  Her interview was featured as part of a news-hour program entitled “Top UN Official in Myanmar Recalled,” starting at minute 30.

Professor and Associate Dean Milena Sterio published a blog post on I-CONnect, an academic blog of the International Journal of Constitutional Law, on the topic of “Catalonia: Is There a ‘Right” to Secession?” Professor Sterio’s post, available here, is part of a on online symposium organized by I-CONnect on the issue of Catalan independence.

Professors Browne Lewis, Alan Weinstein, Doron Kalir, Stephen Lazarus, and Kevin O’Neill presented on October 2, as part of the Cleveland-Marshall faculty lunch presentation series, on the topic of “Recent Supreme Court Cases.”

Professor Lewis reviewed Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, a case about reproductive rights in which the Supreme Court struck down a newly-imposed Texas regulation on abortion providers.

Professor Weinstein discussed Murr v. Wisconsin, a case in which the Supreme Court announced a new test for determining the “relevant parcel” for a takings claim.

Professor Lazarus reviewed Pena-Rodriguez v. Colorado, which held that state rule of evidence 606(b) (patterned on the same-numbered federal rule) was unconstitutional under the 6th’s and the 14th Amendment’s right to a jury trial.   

Professor Kalir discussed United States v. Lee, a “crimmigration” case in which the Supreme Court clarified the rights of a non-citizen in a criminal case (where the admission of guilt by a non-citizen may lead to deportation).

Professor O’Neill reviewed Matal v. Tam, 137 S. Ct. 1744 (2017), where the Supreme Court ruled in favor of trademark registration for “The Slants,” an Asian-American rock band, striking down the disparagement clause of the Lanham Act as facially invalid under the Speech Clause of the First Amendment. 

On October 2, Professor Doron Kalir Presented on the issue of “should we support a right to counsel for immigrants facing deportation?” The presentation was to the Board of the Anti-Defamation League of Cleveland, as well as its Civil Rights Committee. Professor Kalir opined that, despite the logistical and financial hardships involved in such a task, a right to counsel in deportation proceedings is warranted and should be supported. He also admitted, however, that under current circumstances, the likelihood of such an initiative to succeed is extremely low. Professor Kalir is a member of the ADL Cleveland’s Board.