Professor of Law Emeritus William C. Banks spoke with CNN after the Supreme Court ruled blocking President Donald Trump from sending the National Guard into American cities. This may raise the possibility of the President to invoke the Insurrection Act and the deployment of U.S. troops to American cities.
Banks told CNN that such a move would almost certainly be more politically dicey. “Instead of part-time National Guard personnel, the president could send in the 82nd Airborne in heavy armor and gear and gin up some heavy martial images for our screens,” Banks said.
“There’s only a little bit of daylight between no law and the Posse Comitatus prohibition and the Insurrection Act,” Banks said. “There’s no other space for them to work.”
When Ginny Capicchioni L’27 decided to pursue a law degree to complement her extensive financial credentials and better serve her clients, she wasn’t sure how to fit it into her demanding schedule. Between running two companies, coaching lacrosse at the national level, and traveling often, the former pro goalie—known for blocking barriers as deftly as shots—didn’t think a full-time, in-person law school program was realistic. But true to her competitive mindset, she found the Syracuse University College of Law’s hybrid online JDinteractive (JDi) program to be the perfect fit, allowing her to stay in the game while advancing her education.
“Law school is difficult. They push us hard because most of us in the JDi program tend to have plenty of life experience, and we’re all making sacrifices to be here,” says Capicchioni, who is founder and president of Cap Financial Management (CFM) and founder of Gladiator Lacrosse. “If I hadn’t found Syracuse Law’s JDi program, I would imagine my experience would have been very different, so I’m grateful for that.”
A Full-Circle Syracuse Moment
Capicchioni’s connection to Syracuse began long before law school. As a women’s lacrosse player at Sacred Heart University in the late ‘90s, she admired Syracuse University’s lacrosse legacy so much that she bought a Syracuse jersey, wearing it to practice before every game. Years later, during tryouts for the 2011 U.S. Men’s National Box Lacrosse Team, she played exceptionally well, and the first person to congratulate her was Syracuse men’s lacrosse star Casey Powell ’98 (A&S), a four-time all-American. In hindsight, those moments now seem like a sign that she, too, would one day make her own connection to Syracuse University.
While most of the JDi program is held virtually, Capicchioni looks forward to getting together with others in her cohort during the required in-person residencies the JDi program holds each year.
“It’s great to meet the faculty and other students in the program face-to-face during the residencies,” she says. “There are some really accomplished people in my JDi cohort, which inspires me.”
A New Challenge for a Lifelong Competitor
Capicchioni is herself one of those “accomplished people” in the program, applying many of the lessons learned through sports to the rigors of the JDi program. She has spent decades breaking records and overcoming barriers in the sport of lacrosse. Initially recruited by Sacred Heart University as a field hockey goalie, she was encouraged to try women’s lacrosse. Despite being new to the sport, it was not long before she became a three-time Northeast Conference Goalie of the Year.
With no professional women’s lacrosse league to join after college, she discovered box lacrosse and made history as the first female in the country to sign with a men’s professional box lacrosse team. She played with the New Jersey Storm of the National Lacrosse League (NLL), spent nine years in the Canadian Lacrosse League (CLL), and later led the European Lacrosse League (ELL) in save percentages—all while playing alongside men. In 2011, she competed in the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, helping Team U.S.A. win a bronze medal and marking the first time an American woman played for a men’s national team in any sport in an international tournament.
Coach, Entrepreneur, and Mentor
Capicchioni coached at several universities before launching Cap Financial Management in 2019. CFM offers financial advising and services to NCAA coaches, athletes, and other sports affiliates. Capicchioni holds a number of licenses in investments, accounting, insurance, and securities, and is a chartered trust and estate planner.
In 2023, she received a call that the U.S. was finally starting a women’s box lacrosse team and was asked to coach the U.S.A. National Team, a position she still holds today. The team trained for two years, and since the sport of box lacrosse was only just starting for women in the U.S., Capicchioni’s team decided to train against all men’s teams leading up to the 2024 World Box Lacrosse Championship. Ultimately, they took home the first gold medal in USA history, men’s or women’s.
“When we started, these women had played lacrosse but never box lacrosse or any kind of contact game,” explains Capicchioni. “My parents always told me, ‘If you can’t find a way, make your own.’ And that’s what we did. The women I coached essentially achieved the impossible!”
Pursuing the Challenge, Taking the Win
Today, Capicchioni is again making her own way, as she juggles many responsibilities including the demands of the Syracuse Law’s JDi program. She intends to keep her businesses running, continue to stay with the U.S.A. National Team, and also complete her law degree in order to offer her financial clients an even wider range of expertise.
“Attending law school through the JDi program will make me a lawyer, but it has already made me a better coach and is helping me in my financial management career, too,” she says. “None of it’s easy, but I’ve never walked away from a challenge, and the Syracuse Law’s JDi program is no different.”
Professor of Law Gregory L. Germain taught his last class on November 20. Germain had been a professor at Syracuse Law since 2002.
He published widely on bankruptcy, including the book “Bankruptcy Law and Practice, A Casebook Designed to Train Lawyers for the Practice of Bankruptcy Law,” now in its fourth edition. Germain also launched Syracuse Law’s Bankruptcy Clinic in 2009.
Syracuse University College of Law will host The Americans with Disabilities Act and Universal Design: Global Legacy and Potential in Higher Ed” Symposium on April 10 in Dineen Hall.
The symposium will examine the transformative global impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the evolution of universal design principles in higher education contexts worldwide. This symposium explores how the ADA’s foundational principles have transcended U.S. borders to influence international disability rights frameworks, accessibility standards, and inclusive design practices across diverse cultural and legal landscapes.
Dineen Hall is located at 950 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, New York 13244
When driving, Syracuse University is most easily reached from Interstate 81.
New York State Thruway travelers should exit at Interstate 81(Thruway Exit 36) and proceed south. Both northbound and southbound travelers on Interstate 81 should exit at Adams Street (Exit 18.) Continue up the Adams Street hill to the third traffic light. Cross University Avenue and continue past Dineen Hall and the Carrier Dome. Turn right onto E. Raynor Avenue and right onto Stadium Place. The entrance to the Irving Parking Garage will be on your right.
Dineen Hall is located on the corner of Irving Avenue and Raynor Avenue, directly across from the Carrier Dome. Parking arrangements will be made for you in the Irving Parking Garage, located between Dineen Hall and the VA Garage which is accessible via Stadium Place.
Crandall Melvin Professor of Law Shubha Ghosh spoke with Law 360 on antitrust issues that may arise from the proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Bros.
Ghosh likened the current case to the DOJ’s failed challenge to AT&T’s purchase of Time Warner. That case was the first litigated vertical merger challenge in four decades, helping pave the way for more challenges in recent years.
“Expect similar dynamics for Netflix and WarnerMedia with perhaps some divestiture from Netflix’s presence in streaming, production, and distribution,” said Ghosh.
Professor Lauryn Gouldin, the Laura J. & L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence 2022-2025, will present a draft of her upcoming paper Crime-Specific Searches at the December 12 Markelloquium. The Markelloquium aims for a colloquium-style in-depth discussion of works in progress in the field of criminal law and procedure.
Jerusa Ferreira L’24 recently brought together members of the Syracuse Law L.L.M. Class of 2024 for a reunion in São Paulo, Brazil. Even though they’ve graduated and returned to their home countries, our international alumni are staying connected and keeping the Syracuse spirit alive across continents.
Thank you, Jerusa, for reminding us that the bonds formed at Syracuse Law extend far beyond graduation—and far beyond borders.
Pictured below from the Class of 2024: Jerusa Gabriela Ferreira, Renata Maximiano, Renata Felipe Ferrari, Flavia Bornéo Func, Renato Henry Sant’Anna, and Claudio André Raposo Machado Costa.
Assistant Dean Lily Yan Hughes is a recipient of the 2025 Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award from the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the organization’s highest honor.
As Assistant Dean, Hughes oversees strategy and operations for the Admissions and Financial Aid Office, the Marketing and Communications Office, the Office of Career Services, and SU Abroad. Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud appointed Hughes to the University Leadership Team in the 2023-2024 academic year, and she continues to serve in that capacity.
Hughes is currently Chair and has served on the Board of Directors of DirectWomen, a non-profit focused on increasing opportunities in the corporate board room, since October 2021 and, in October 2025, was elected as an Independent Director of Allbirds, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIRD), where she chairs the Sustainability, Nomination & Governance Committee and also serves on their Management Compensation & Leadership Committee.
Before joining the law school in 2021, Hughes practiced law for several decades, including as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary of Fortune 500 Arrow Electronics and S&P 500 Public Storage.
“I want to congratulate Lily and the other outstanding recipients of this high honor,” said College of Law Dean Terence Lau. “Lily is an invaluable member of the College of Law and Syracuse University leadership who tirelessly works to ensure our students have an outstanding experience and can fulfill their career aspirations.”
The Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award celebrates the outstanding achievements of lawyers whose leadership and dedication have left a profound mark on both the legal profession and the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. This lifetime achievement award recognizes those whose vision, courage, and commitment have opened doors and paved the way for future generations of attorneys.
“I am humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award in the name of Senator Inouye,” said Hughes. “As I look back at my career at the time of this award, what I’m proudest of isn’t a title or a deal — it’s the people. The young lawyers who walked into my office unsure are now leading with confidence, mentoring others, and lifting as they climb. That’s what trailblazing really means. It’s not about being first. It’s about making sure you’re not the last.”
Professor of Law Cora True-Frost G’01, L’01, recently spoke with the Telegraph on the legal issues surrounding the New York City Mayor-elect’s statement that he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he traveled to New York City. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has stated that he would honor the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu.
True-Frost, the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence 2024-2027, said that while Mamdani’s pledge to arrest Netanyahu was “politically very significant,” it would be difficult to fulfil.
“Foreign affairs and policy are the exclusive power of the federal government, and this administration would almost certainly claim head of state immunity for Netanyahu,” True-Frost said.
“That the US is not a party to the ICC does not in itself preclude Americans from cooperating with the ICC, though this administration is hostile towards it and has sanctioned ICC staff. Were Netanyahu travelling to New York City to visit the United Nations, the Convention on Privileges and Immunities and the UN Headquarters Agreement which protect visiting diplomats from arrest would further constrain Mamdani’s ability to make good on this threat,” said True-Frost.
Jill Nelsen L’27 grew up in California playing soccer and loving sports. She was recruited to California State-East Bay with a four-year athletic scholarship to play women’s varsity soccer, while also earning a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. When she later decided to pursue law school, she hoped to stay connected to the world of sports and entertainment—but she never imagined that Syracuse University College of Law would open doors to opportunities like Miami Swim Week and New York Fashion Week.
During her 1L year, Nelsen joined the Entertainment & Sports Law Society (ESLS) often attending networking events with alumni thriving in this space. At one such event, she met Riley Christian L’16, now an entertainment and sports attorney with Artifex Athleta P.C., a firm he founded in 2022.
Nelsen and Christian had a lot in common, as she had been a collegiate soccer player and he a collegiate baseball player. At the time, Christian was rebranding his boutique law firm in New York City to focus more on the areas of sports and entertainment that dealt with navigating the NCAA’s new Name Image and Likeness (NIL) rules for college athletes and handling legal issues related to artificial intelligence in the entertainment and music business.
She reached out to Christian shortly thereafter, asking if he might need an intern, and he agreed to bring her onboard. At first, she helped navigate the logo development for the firm’s rebranding, later moving on to legal research for defamation cases, statute of limitations issues, trademark infringements, and intellectual property, while learning as much as she could about the ever-evolving NIL rules.
Jill Nelsen and Riley Christian L’16 on the runway at New York Fashion week.
Piecing Together Sports, Fashion, and the Law
While all of this experience at her internship was very exciting, two highlights were attending Miami Swim Week and New York Fashion Week.
“Riley knew these big events would be good networking experiences for me, and he also knew I liked to talk to people and that would be a good way to spread the word about the rebranding of Artifex Athleta,” she explains.
The annual Miami Swim Week is the world’s largest swimwear and resort wear event that includes runway fashion shows, trade shows, and pop-up shops, as well as the chance to meet and network with all kinds of people connected to this area of fashion— from designers and buyers to athletes, agents, and the media.
“Yes, it was focused on swimwear, but there are so many aspects of the law attached to the fashion space, including trademarks, sponsorships, and negotiating and closing NIL and more,” she explains. “It was a fascinating experience to see it in action.”
She also attended New York Fashion Week, one of the “big four” fashion events in the world, showcasing what’s going to be “in” for the upcoming season. The biannual event includes exclusive runway shows by world-class designers that are attended by celebrities, influencers, fashion buyers, and the media. This, too, gave Nelsen an opportunity to network with a host of agents, attorneys, and other business leaders in the fashion space.
“The experience of not only attending these fabulous events but also having the chance to work with Riley helped me begin to make a name for myself as more than just an athlete,” she explains. “The younger version of me would be emotional to see all the things I’ve accomplished both in my course work, as well as internship opportunities. My take away from this entire experience is that I can do it, and there are people who truly believe in me and see my potential.”
Uplifting Women Is the Ultimate Win
After completing her education at Syracuse Law, Nelsen’s dream is to one day work as general counsel for a National Basketball Association (NBA) or National Football League (NFL) team and negotiate from the team’s side with players and their agents. But her ultimate goal is to one day be a general manager or even owner of a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team.
“Sports, and now working in sports—has always been the dream,” she explains, noting that her older sister has been a role model “moving mountains” as director of services and retention for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers.
“And I’ve also learned a lot about creating space for people like me, particularly as a first-generation Latina woman. I’ve been told I’m too much, too blunt, too Californian, but I’ve also been told ‘don’t dim your light to fit into a box that’s been predefined for you.’ I am proud to be a Syracuse Law student with the opportunity to contribute to uplifting women in the sports and entertainment business and also within the legal field. That is a real win for me.”
