Professor Steven Chien recently delivered a presentation at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law’s Law Review Symposium: Judicial Conduct, Ethics & Reform. His article “Open Court and Social Trust: Evidence-Based Criminal Justice 2.0,” argues that the current fragmented approach to data collection and sharing, accompanied by the coercion-based culture of the criminal justice system and the lack of sufficient peer review mechanisms, raises pressing challenges and concerns about institutional legitimacy. It further argues that high-quality data and systemic transparency play a critical role in cultivating social trust. It cautions against the dangers of biased data and antiquated measures of success for the judiciary, as these could jeopardize equitable justice and democracy. His article also explores the ethics of collecting, preparing, analyzing, and integrating judicial data in this emerging evidence-based criminal justice system.

On November 9th, the eagerly awaited book titled “COVID-19 and the Law: Disruption, Impact, and Legacy” was released. Among the noteworthy chapters within this publication is one co-authored by the Professor Laura Hoffman, titled “Telehealth Transformation in COVID-19.” The chapter explores the significant impact of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and its transformative role in the healthcare sector.

This week, Professor Christa Laser delivered a presentation in a free webinar titled “A Seat at the Sitting.” The webinar focused on Vidal v. Elster, the Supreme Court regarding whether the trademark office’s refusal to register “Trump Too Small” as a mark, based on the use of another person’s name without consent, violates upon the First Amendment. The livestream and podcast audio are both available here. 

Professor Laser was also a featured speaker at the CS+Law research workshop hosted by UCLA. During the workshop, she discussed her upcoming paper titled “Legal Issues in Blockchain.” For more information about the event, please visit the following website: https://www.cslawworkshop.org/

Professor Milena Sterio recently participated in a radio program called “Talking Foreign Policy.” Professor Sterio is a frequent guest on the show, which is produced quarterly. In this particular episode, scheduled to air on WCPN, she discussed international legal matters pertaining to environmental protection and climate change. Catch the broadcast on November 20, both in the morning from 9 am to 10 am and in the evening from 9 pm to 10 pm.

Professor Mark Sundahl was quoted extensively in an October 16 article in telecom industry news site Communications Daily.  The article, FCC’s Orbital Debris Fine May Influence Small Space Operator Behavior, examines the FCC’s recent fining of Dish Network for failing to move its defunct satellite into the proper “graveyard orbit” due to a lack of remaining fuel. In the article, Professor Sundahl explains that as a result of the fine it’s likely that “space operators will be much more diligent about tracking their fuel consumption and maybe not try to squeeze quite so much operational life out of their satellites.” He added that the risk of receiving such fines “could lead to industry standards on fuel consumption.”

During the week of October 23, Professor Milena Sterio participated in several meetings held in Washington D.C. with delegates from OPORA, a prominent Ukrainian civil society organization. Such sessions included discussions with fellow international experts and high-level U.S. government officials, focusing on matters concerning accountability and reparations in Ukraine.

Legal Educator in Residence Howard E. Katz participated in an October 4 Zoom session hosted by the Section on New Law Professors of the AALS. During the session, he shared valuable insights and guidance pertaining to course design and the art of teaching.

Professor Matthew Green hosted a workshop for human resources professionals and small business owners operating within the Cleveland metropolitan region, focusing on compliance concerns related to workplace sexual harassment. During his presentation, Professor Green addressed the legal standards for identifying when workplace harassment becomes unlawful and discussed employers’ legal obligations in preventing and promptly addressing such misconduct. The seminar took place at the University Hospitals campus.

On October 23, Professor Milena Sterio delivered a lecture as part of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research Online Executive Diploma program on International Criminal Law and Transitional Justice. Her presentation focused on the topic of “International Criminal Law and Statehood.” This month-long course is designed for diplomats, policymakers, civil servants, and members of non-governmental organizations. Distinguished speakers in this program also included Judge Joanna Korner, who discussed International Criminal Law, Juan Mendez, the former UN Rapporteur on Torture, Yasmin Sooka, who serves as the Chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, and Catherine Marchi-Uhel, who heads the UN Investigative International and Impartial Mechanism for Syria.

On October 20, Professor Milena Sterio presented at International Law Weekend, a prominent international law conference hosted by the American Branch of the International Law Association (ABILA). Professor Sterio participated as a panelist in a session titled “Charting the Course for the ICC’s Gender Persecution Policy.” This panel discussed the International Criminal Court Prosecutor’s recent policy concerning the prosecution of gender persecution as a criminal offense. Notably, Professor Sterio held the position of one of the three co-chairs for International Law Weekend and was additionally a member of ABILA’s board of directors.