Witmer-Rich Comments on Police Use of Facial Recognition

Professor Jonathan Witmer-Rich was quoted in an article titled, “Cleveland police use facial recognition without training or transparency on its use,” published by Ideastream Public Media. The article discusses a recent criminal case in which Cleveland police used facial recognition technology to obtain a search warrant in a murder investigation.

In recent public comments to City Council, Cleveland Public Safety Director Wayne Drummond stated that the Cleveland Real Time Crime Center does not use facial recognition technology. However, the recent criminal case shows that the Real Time Crime Center sent images to the Northeast Ohio Fusion Center, which conducted the facial recognition search on their behalf.

Professor Witmer-Rich opined that Cleveland police should be more open about what technology they’re using and how they’re using it.

“What body of images do we want the police to be using if, if using it at all?” Witmer-Rich said. “And is it anything that a company can scrape off of the internet, or should it be something more limited than that? Something that’s limited to a certain set of images that we know are reliable or that we know haven’t been manipulated?”

Professor Sterio Speaks at British International Law Studies Association Event

Professor Milena Sterio spoke at the British International Law Studies Association webinar on February 24, on the topic of “Trump, US Foreign Policy, and International Law.”  Professor Sterio’s remarks focused on use of force issues under international law in light of President Trump’s intervention in Venezuela, and the Administration’s threats against Iran and Greenland.  

Professor Hoffman Featured in News Story on Road Construction Impact on Local Businesses

Professor Deborah Hoffman, Visiting Assistant Professor of Law at Cleveland State University College of Law, was featured in a news segment by WEWS News 5 Cleveland addressing legal issues related to prolonged road construction and its impact on local businesses.

The story focuses on a Geneva, Ohio business affected by extended infrastructure work. Professor Hoffman provided commentary on legal considerations involving business access, notice, and the limits of government authority.

The segment includes both a written article and video interview and is available here.

Professor Kalir Presents at Inaugural “Faith, Values, and the Rule of Law” Conference 

On February 4-5, Seton Hall Law School hosted its first “Faith, Values, and the Rule of Law,” an interdisciplinary conference that hosted theologians, philosophers, and legal scholars. On the first day, during the first opening session, Professor Kalir presented his paper “Jewish Human Dignity: Equality Before God & Men,” which was well received. The Conference hosted both national and international scholars of all stripes and religions, and was crowned a great success. 

Professor Sterio Presents at Armenian International Law Association Conference in Yerevan, Armenia

Professor Milena Sterio was an invited speaker at the Armenian International Law Association Conference in Yerevan, Armenia, on February 14, in Yerevan, Armenia, “Rethinking International Law: Knowledge, Action, Reflection.”

She presented on a panel titled “International Courts and Beyond: Various Pathways of International Law Enforcement” on the specific topic of The Role of Domestic Courts in Global Peace and Security.  In her remarks, Professor Sterio focused on how different courts can play a role in transitions toward peace and security, by holding states responsible for international law violations, and by imposing individual criminal responsibility on perpetrators of atrocity crimes.   

Professor Sterio Co-Hosts International Law Chats Podcast

Professor Milena Sterio co-hosted a new episode of the International Law Chats podcast, a monthly podcast by the American Branch of the International Law Association co-hosted by Professor Sterio, Professor Chiara Giorgetti (University of Richmond Law School), and Alison McDonald, KC.  The episode, published on Feb. 2, 2026, featured as guest Professor Harold Koh, Yale Law School, speaking on “The Future of the International Legal Order.”  Professor Koh is the most highly cited international legal scholar; he is former dean of Yale Law School as well as former Legal Advisor to the U.S. State Department.

Professor Sterio Invited to Publish on Autonomous Weapons Systems in Australian Journal

Professor Milena Sterio has been invited to submit an article to La Trobe University’s (Melbourne, Australia) inaugural volume of the La Trobe University Law Review. The volume will focus on the theme “AI on the Battlefield: Navigating Legal and Ethical Frontiers in 21st Century Conflict,” and Professor Sterio’s article will focus on the issue of individual criminal responsibility for operators of autonomous weapons systems which use AI.

Professor Sterio to Publish on Use of AI in Autonomous Weapons

Professor Milena Sterio has accepted a publication offer from the American University International Law Review, one of the most prestigious international law journals, for her article “Artificial Intelligence, the Use of Autonomous Weapons, and Individual Criminal Responsibility: A Paradox or a Possibility.”  The article will be published in the journal’s forthcoming 2026 issue.

Professor Sterio Ranked in International Law Scholarly Impact Rankings by Hein Online

Professor Milena Sterio ranks 39th in the United States in Scholarly Impact Rankings for International Law scholars, according to Hein Online. Hein Online publishes a list of top 100 scholars by subject area, and Professor Sterio is listed in the International Law Impact Rankings. The impact rankings are based on the number of citations, as well as additional factors.  

Professor Sterio Participates as Expert in Training of Ukrainian Prosecutors and Judges in Poland

Professor Milena Sterio participated as an expert in a week-long training of Ukrainian judges and prosecutors on International Humanitarian Law, War Crimes Prosecutions, and International Environmental Law, from January 19-23, in Rzeszów, Poland. 

The training was organized by the International Bar Association, and the expert team, in addition to Professor Sterio, consisted of professors and practitioners from the United Kingdom, Brazil, Chile, and the United States.  Professor Sterio delivered two presentations about the sources of International Humanitarian Law and the fundamental principles of International Humanitarian Law.  In addition, she also led several discussion groups and simulated exercises, where she guided Ukrainian colleagues across various evidentiary challenges as they relate to complex war crimes trials.  This was Professor Sterio’s second trip to Poland as an expert; she had previously participated in a similar training in September 2024.

Professor Sterio (front row, far right) with other experts at the training program.
Professor Sterio presenting on the Principle of Distinction during a training session for Ukrainian judges and prosecutors in Rzeszów, Poland.