Professor Laura Hoffman presented as a panelist at the Oklahoma Law Review 2024 Symposium, which focused on innovation and healthcare involving law at the University of Oklahoma College of Law on Friday, October 4th.  The Oklahoma Law Review will publish Professor Hoffman’s upcoming article, “Putting the ‘Social’ Into Social Determinants of Health: Why Policymaking for Improving Health Must Tackle Social Isolation and Loneliness”, in which she challenges policymakers at all levels to make addressing social isolation and loneliness a priority due to the significant impact on health.

While the COVID-19 pandemic exposed our nation to the impact of social isolation and loneliness on health, research has already demonstrated that these issues have impacted the health of all across our nation far before the pandemic.  The pandemic merely alerted us to the pervasiveness of these issues and contributed further to the impact on health.  This led the U.S. Surgeon General in May 2023 to publish a report on the relationship between social isolation and loneliness in their impact on health, calling it a public health crisis.  Dr. Murthy’s call to action included policy.

Professor Hoffman’s article will include highlights of the U.S. Surgeon General’s report and an update with new research.  She examines how federal, state, and local legislation and policy efforts in the U.S. are now trying to respond to the U.S. Surgeon General’s urgency on this matter and recommendations going forward.

Professor Hoffman’s recommendations include the digital environment and making Broadband internet accessible to all.  As those with mental health needs have benefited from telehealth as a delivery model, the greater availability of access to these services could further improve overall health for many.

Prof. Mark J. Sundahl was the guest on the October 4^th episode of John Quinn’s podcast Law Disrupted, where he discussed the many fascinating issues that have emerged in an era of accelerated space activity. From orbital tourism and mega constellations to lunar mining and the militarization of Earth’s orbits, the wide-ranging conversation is the epitome of “law disrupted.”

On October 4th, the Taiwan Taichung District Prosecutors Office invited Professor Steven Chien for a special visit. He first met with Chief Prosecutor Chang Jie-Qin, where they exchanged views on the practical application of the Citizen Judges Act, prosecutorial ethics, and comparative legal systems between the United States and Taiwan.

Following the meeting, Professor Chien participated in a seminar titled “Prosecutorial Work under the Citizen Judges Act.” During this session, he shared his extensive observations of U.S. judicial practices and provided insights on various topics, including prosecutor training in the U.S., prosecutors’ courtroom performance in jury trials, and sentencing investigations.

He also offered comparative perspectives on issues such as victim impact statements, eliminating bias, and enhancing cross-examination techniques within Taiwan’s legal system. Accompanied by prosecutors of the “Citizen Judges Group,” Professor Chien visited the Taichung District Court to observe a Citizen Judge case, where he gained firsthand experience of the intense adversarial exchanges between

Capitol Forum reporter Ethan Ehrenhaft interviewed Professor Brian Ray for his recently published article discussing the risks posed by adtech companies in a recent report by the Federal Trade Commission and how they apply to other data brokers, including Zeta Global.

On Friday, Sept. 27, Professor Doron Kalir presented to an older audience as part of the Jewish Studies Program of Siegal Lifelong Learning at Case Western Reserve University. The lecture, entitled “What’s New(s) in Israel,” included a two-hour review of Israel’s latest expansion of the War to Lebanon, and the likely geo-political and humanitarian law implications of that incursion. 

Professor Milena Sterio presented at a conference at Case Western Reserve University School of Law on “The Geneva Conventions at 75: Need for Innovation” on September 27, 2024.  Professor Sterio presented on a panel devoted to the topic of “Is there a Need for a new Geneva Convention on Autonomous Weapon Systems?”  Professor Sterio’s remarks focused on the need to develop a multilateral treaty which would both define autonomous weapons systems and propose a regulatory regime over the use of such weapons.  

Professor Karin Mika will participate in an American Bar Association panel, The ABA Reexamines Faculty Employment Security and Status, and the Academy Needs to Pay Attention

The panel will discuss the history of class divisions in the Legal Academy and how that history often conflicts with both student demand and the needs of the bar.  The panel will further discuss the ABA’s potential changes to Rule 405, and how this will impact all levels of security of status, including Academic Support and Bar Preparation.

Professor Milena Sterio participated as a guest expert in the Lawyering Peace Hot Takes podcast in an episode that focused on “The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (2011): Justice on Hold.” The episode is available for streaming here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lawyering-peace-hot-takes/id1755218391?i=1000670435677

In this episode, Professor Paul Williams (American University Washington College of Law) and Professor Sterio distill and discuss the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, a peace agreement signed between the then government of Sudan and various Darfur-based rebel groups. 

Professor Milena Sterio presented on September 26 at a Workshop on Teaching International Humanitarian Law, which was organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and which took place at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.  Professor Sterio presented on the topic of incorporating international humanitarian law into her international law courses.  

Professor Karin Mike was appointed to peer editor for the Legal Communication and Rhetoric Journal (JALWD).

She also was appointed to LWI Institutional Memory Project – an effort to ensure the history of the discipline of Legal Writing is made available online.

Professor Mika presented at two events: (1) the Legal Writing Institute Biennial Conference, held in Indianapolis, Indiana from July 17th-20th. Her topic was, “Adapting Legal Writing Education for the Online Environment: Challenges, Innovations, and Lessons, The presentation discussed how Legal Writing can be taught online, the potential international outreach of online JD programs, and how American law schools with online JD programs must be attuned to the needs (including shifting time zones and even politics) of any students that may be entering an online program.

And (2) the Western Regional Legal Writing Conference, held in Seattle, Washington from Sept. 13th-24th. My topic was, “From Peripheral to Pivotal: The Role of Legal Writing in the Modern Law School Misson.” The presentation discussed how the importance of Legal Writing and skills teaching has changed during the past four decades and discussed how Legal Writing necessarily takes a central role in developing material for online JD programs.