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

Professor Debbie Hoffman has been invited to speak on a panel at the upcoming Association of Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting 2023. The panel’s topic is “Cryptocurrency: From Scandals to Fraud and Where We Go From There.” Joining her on the panel will be Andre Frieden, Deputy General Counsel at Capgemini North America, Inc., and Evan Thomas, Head of Legal at Wealthsimple Crypto. More details can be accessed here: https://www.acc.com/annualmeeting

On September 10th, Professor Debbie Hoffman is scheduled to participate as a Judge during the Mortgage Tech Day (MTD) event, hosted by The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC) at the “Music to My Ears: TMC in Nashville” Conference. The MTD is a component of the TMC Emerging Tech Fund, where various companies will vie for a $5,000 prize by presenting their innovations. The event page can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/music-to-my-ears-tmc-in-nashville-tickets-526504458007

Professor Mark Sundahl, along with a member of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been appointed co-chair of a Working Group charged with crafting a proposal to the United Nations regarding the creation of a new international coordination group for lunar activity. This group would allow for the informal creation of best practices and guiding principles as we return en masse to the Moon.