(Syracuse, NY | MAY 11, 2022) Syracuse University College of Law is pleased to announce the establishment of the Hon. Theodore A. McKee L’75 Endowed Law Scholarship with a generous gift from Syracuse University Trustee and College of Law Board of Advisors Member Richard M. Alexander L’82, a partner at Arnold & Porter, and his wife Emily.
The announcement of the scholarship in the name of Judge McKee, a Syracuse University Life Trustee and an honorary member of the College of Law Board of Advisors, came at the College’s Commencement ceremony on May 6, before the Class of 2022 and Judge McKee’s family, including several of his judicial clerks.
The Hon. Theodore A. McKee L’75 Endowed Law Scholarship will provide Syracuse Law students with the education and cultural context to enable them to carry forward the legacy of Judge McKee, who has served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit for more than 27 years.
“This scholarship honors a College of Law legend and one of its foremost pioneers, who as a jurist has earned praise for his fairness, compassion, and incisive questioning from the bench, and whose public service is grounded in a deep concern for social justice,” says Dean Craig M. Boise. “The Alexanders’ generous gift ensures that Judge McKee’s legacy is enshrined at the College and that, in his name, we can assist and inspire students whose backgrounds and experiences will bring diverse perspectives to the College and the practice of law.”
Judge McKee graduated from the College of Law in 1975 magna cum laude and as a member of the Order of the Coif and the Justinian Honorary Law Society. He began his legal career in private practice in Philadelphia, PA, before entering public service as an Assistant US Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He then served as Deputy City Solicitor for Philadelphia, as a lecturer at Rutgers Law School, and as General Counsel for the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
Judge McKee first took the bench in 1984 on the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. After a decade of service, he was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit by President William J. Clinton in 1994, receiving his confirmation and commission later that same year. Judge McKee served as the court’s Chief Judge from 2010 to 2016.
As to the scholarship, Richard and Emily Alexander said, “We are delighted to be able to honor Judge McKee’s distinguished service to our country, his commitment to social justice, and his passion for Syracuse University, by supporting scholarships to deserving students at the College of Law.”
Upon hearing the news of Alexander’s gift, Judge McKee said, “I am humbled beyond words by the generosity and thoughtfulness of the Alexander family in endowing a scholarship in my honor.” He continued, “the legal education I received from Syracuse University has allowed me to compete with graduates of any law school in the country, and I am very thankful that this scholarship will help me to give back to the university that has done so much for me.”
For more information, or to contribute to the Hon. Theodore A. McKee L’75 Endowed Law Scholarship, please contact Assistant Dean for Advancement and External Affairs Sophie Dagenais 315.443.1964 or sulaw@syr.edu.
Ryan Marquette L’22 is Syracuse University’s 2022 Student Veteran of the Year, awarded by the Student Veterans Organization (SVO) and the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA). This award is presented each year to a student who contributes both on and off campus to make Syracuse University “the best place for veterans.”
Highlighted in this SU news article by Ausin Philleo, Marquette is a U.S. Army veteran and active member of the Army National Guard. He was a student veteran in the College of Law while simultaneously pursuing a master’s of public administration at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. While his studies kept him busy, Marquette also regularly involved himself with veteran functions on campus and in the community and found the time to volunteer for the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, serving as a guest speaker at a Fort Drum Onward the Opportunity graduation.
The article notes that during the height of COVID-19 in 2020, Marquette had to juggle school and his active role as a member of the National Guard as he responded to the pandemic in New York State. His efforts led to the distribution of 147,809 COVID tests, 36,661 meals, and 507 medical supply deliveries across the state. Off-campus, he leads the Leader-Scholar Scholarship in Rome, New York, where one student is awarded a scholarship for their leadership efforts throughout their high school career and volunteer work in their community. The scholarship was named after Marquette’s friend, Capt. John Levulis, who lost his life in a military training accident.
Marquette served as the president of the Operation Veteran Advocacy group at the College of Law and was an executive board member of the Syracuse Law Review. His list of accomplishments while at the University includes receiving the 2021 Student Veterans Organization’s Best for Vets award and serving as the first-ever law school appointee to the Syracuse University Board of Trustees, amongst other contributions to the community.
(Syracuse, NY | May 10, 2022) On May 6, 2022, students in the inaugural class of Syracuse University College of Law’s first-of-its-kind JDinteractive (JDi) program graduated alongside their peers in the College’s residential JD program. JDi, a fully ABA-accredited program, was the first to combine live online class sessions with self-paced class sessions. Its innovative design served as a model for other law schools pivoting to online education amid the pandemic.
The members of the inaugural class, which comprises 45 of the 199 College of Law’s JD recipients this year, distinguished themselves in their legal studies. Many are graduating with honors. As students, they were also active in extracurricular activities and pro bono work. Twelve served on the Syracuse Law Review or other journals, many participated in the Student Bar Association and other student organizations, and some started new student organizations.
“I’m extraordinarily proud of all our 2022 graduates, but I’m particularly pleased to see our inaugural JDi cohort earn their law degrees,” says Dean Craig M. Boise. “From across the country and around the world, they have studied with us year-round for more than three years, while balancing full-time work and family obligations. They are incredibly talented and motivated, and we’re honored to count them among our Syracuse Law alumni family.”
The College of Law carefully designed JDi to make its JD program available to students for whom attending a residential program was not practical. By combining real-time, online class sessions with self-paced instruction, on-campus courses, and externship opportunities, the program makes a foremost legal education available to students who need flexibility in their studies.
Consistent with the program’s goals of increasing access to legal education, the JDi graduates are a diverse group:
• They hail from 25 different states, including Hawaii and Alaska, and have taken classes while living in multiple countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan.
• Eleven are members of the military or military-affiliated, including high-ranking, retired veterans and spouses of active-duty military personnel based in Germany and New Mexico.
• 30% are students of color.
• Their median age is 35.
“These students are the embodiment of the goal at the core of JDi: to expand access to legal education and the legal profession,” says Professor Shannon Gardner, Associate Dean for Online Education. “Without this program, this diverse group of talented, accomplished, and ambitious grads would not have been able to pursue their aspirations of becoming lawyers.”
Outside of their pursuits as law students, the Class of 2022 JDi graduates are global industry executives at prominent companies, such as Apple, John Deere, and Lockheed Martin. They are national and local government employees, leaders at higher education institutions, public school teachers and administrators, bankers, insurance executives, paralegals, real estate agents, entrepreneurs, and accountants. They are parents of one to nine children and caregivers to aging parents. Several already held advanced degrees.
“Designing JDi required us to rethink how we deliver education and gave us the opportunity to take the best of what we do in our residential program and translate it into the online space,” says Professor Nina Kohn, Faculty Director of Online Education, who led the design and launch of JDi. “The College of Law could not be prouder of these students for their achievements here. Their success shows that—with careful planning and an insistence on always putting student learning first—we can deliver a high-quality legal education to students no matter where they may be located.”
For more information about JDinteractive, contact Online JD.
Cheers to the class of 2022! The College of Law hosted a Graduation Recognition and Celebration event in Levy Atrium this evening for our students, friends, and family members who have supported these graduates along their law school journey. Dean Boise kicked off the evening with a celebratory toast, followed by the announcement of a few academic awards and student achievement announcements.
Congratulations to these prestigious award winners, unveiled this evening:
National Association of Women Lawyers Award: Gabriella Kielbasinski
Seeley Johnson Award: Mazaher Kaila
ALI-CLE Scholarship and Leadership Award: Jake Goldsmith
We’d also like to recognize a few other spectacular Class of 2022 students for their success and high achievements. Class of 2022 Academic Excellence
Highest Average: Leita M. Powers
Second Highest Average: Chana Feldbrand
Third Highest Average: Hayley M. Rousselle
Academic Success Fellows
Tara L. Andryshak
Alexandra G. Corradi
Lyndon Elizabeth Hall
Shelby R. Petro
Jackson Somes
Grace O. Sullivan
Student Recognition
Law Ambassador Recognition: Molly N. Graham and Tara L. Andryshak
Clinical Legal Education Association SU College Of Law 2022 Nominee: Mary Elizabeth E. Boswell
The Syracuse University College of Law’s Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society (AHS) hosted its annual Students Award Ceremony at SKY Armory on April 21, highlighting the work of various students, organizations, staff, and faculty.
2022 Award Winners
Travis H. D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society Executive Director Award
Brandon Bourg and Margaret Santandreu
Richard Risman Appellate Advocacy Award
Scott Ceurvels
Courtcall Scholarship Award (Advocacy Director Award)
Gabby Kielbasinski, Penny Quinteros, and Morgan Steele
Ralph E. Kharas Award
Olivia Stevens
Lee S. Michaels L’67 Advocate Of The Year Award
Austin Milone (2L)
Emil M. Rossi L’72 Scholarship Award
Autumn Burgin (2L) & Angelica Judge (2L)
Models of Excellence in Advocacy Award (In Honor of Michael S. Olsan L’89)
Caleb Gieger (2L) & Roland Lucas (2L)
International Academy Of Trial Lawyers Student Advocate Award
Marina De Rosa & Amanda Nardozza
The following 3L students were admitted to the Order of Barristers: M. Bradley Ace, Marina De Rosa, Kelsey Gonzalez, Amanda Nardozza, Abigail Neuviller, Margaret Santandreu, Morgan Steele, Olivia Stevens, Cierra Thomas, and Gabriella Verdone.
The AHS is comprised of a select group of second and third-year law students, representing the best oral advocates at the College. The College of Law’s nationally ranked Advocacy Program enjoys a strong track record of stellar results on the biggest stages competing against other law schools. These competitions, supported by the student-run AHS, teach advocacy skills through mock appellate, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and trial experiences.
Congratulations to all the award winners this year!
As part of a newly-launched partnership between the College of Law and the Republic of Georgia Bar Association (GBA) earlier this academic year, Syracuse Law offered a five-part lecture series to members of the GBA to discuss a range of topics that covered foundational aspects of the U.S. legal system, and nuances of criminal procedure, commercial law, national security law, and intellectual property.
College of Law faculty members wrapped up the final component of the series in April. Participating in the series were:
Professor Shannon Gardner: Sources of U.S. Law: From the Common Law Up
Hon. James Baker: Current Issues in Security: Bar Associations, Public Citizens, and the Rule of Law
Professor Todd Berger: Introduction to U.S. Criminal Procedure by
Adjunct Professor David Reed L’85: Demystifying U.S. Commercial Contracts
Professor Shubha Ghosh: Overview of U.S. Legal Issues in Patent, Copyright, and Trademark Law
The College of Law was a natural partner for this effort given the broad expertise of faculty, overall interest in supporting internationalization efforts, and alumni members of the GBA.
Executive Director of the GBA Giorgi Tshekhani praised the partnership, commenting that “while enhancing the quality of justice in Georgia is one of our priorities as well as main challenges, sharing of knowledge and experience from our highly qualified U.S. colleagues is of significant importance. I would like to thank the representatives and professors of the SU College of Law for their active and valuable involvement in the lecture cycle.”
In the past, the College of Law has helped arrange for lectures to lawyers in Azerbaijan, Brazil, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and throughout Europe, but this was the first comprehensive series arranged in coordination with an institutional partner.
Professor Todd Berger explains, “this program builds on several different international collaborations that we’ve done with other academic institutions over the years, connecting us with actual practicing lawyers in other countries. Each partnership, including this one with the GBA, has some key differences that give our faculty new perspectives from around the world.”
This partnership not only promotes the expertise of the College of Law faculty but also advances the teaching of law and exposure to diverse perspectives beyond borders and provides visibility to prospective students in countries around the world.
“These conversations not only enhance participants’ knowledge,” Professor Shannon Gardner remarks, “but also lay the groundwork for future collaboration and partnership between the College of Law and the Georgian Bar Association. The opportunity for both College of Law faculty and members of the Georgian Bar Association to learn more about the laws and legal systems of each other’s country has been invaluable.”
With the ease and comfort of virtual exchanges over platforms like Zoom, the College of Law plans to continue to expand these efforts in other parts of the world.
Professor Malloy presented the Annual Zoning Law Update, a continuing education program for zoning and planning board officials in Onondaga County, this past Saturday, April 23. The annual education program is designed to meet the certification requirements for zoning and planning officials in New York State.
Held at Dineen Hall this year, presenters included law students Kate Mazdzer (2L) and Michael Towey (3L), who are both a part of Malloy’s Advanced Zoning Law Program, and Alum Christopher Baiamonte L’19 of the Wladis Law Firm.
The program is sponsored by the Center for Property, Citizenship, and Social Entrepreneurism at the College of Law and by the Town of DeWitt, NY. Approximately 40 officials were on hand for the annual training that covered such topics as Area and Use Variances; Article 78 court review; Affordable Housing and the demise of the single-family residential zone, Unconstitutional Conditions; and criteria for evaluating Reasonable Accommodation under the ADA and FHA.
The Student Bar Association (SBA) hosted a Students Award Ceremony in Dineen Hall on April 20, highlighting the work of various students, organizations, staff, and faculty.
2022 Award Winners
Distinguished Service Awards
Gabby Kielbasinski
Abby Neuviller
Olivia Stevens
Kayla Wheeler
Outstanding Graduate Award
Christopher Martz
Paul Shipman Andrews Award
Mazaher Kaila
Unsung Hero Award
Kevin Casserino
Scott Ceurvels
Evan Groder
Joseph Hobika
Gabby Kielbasinski
Seth Owens
Omnia Shedid
Payton Sorci
Caroline Synakowski
Tia Thevenin
Student Organization of the Year Award
First Generations Law Students Association
Staff Award
Kyle Davis
Faculty Award
Professor Rakesh Anand
The SBA also welcomed newly elected SBA Officers for 2022 – 2023, who will play a critical role in developing a legacy of service, leadership, and excellence at the College of Law. Congratulations to all the award winners this year!
The paper lays out an indictment of numerous war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression from February 24, 2022, to April 1, 2022, during the invasion of Ukraine. The report includes a sample draft (Appendix A, page 47) of a criminal indictment against President Vladimir Putin for his war crimes. The white paper was created by the Ukraine Task Force, comprised of law students and legal scholars, with the goal to create a non-partisan, high-quality analysis of open-source materials.
“Because of his aggressive acts and his intentional targeting of Ukrainian civilians, Vladimir Putin has lost all political legitimacy and has made Russia a pariah state. This white paper catalogs the horror he has unleashed and lays out a pathway for holding him accountable for aggression, war crimes, and crimes against humanity,” said David Crane L’80, the project leader of the white paper and Distinguished Scholar in Residence at Syracuse University College of Law.
Crane is the founding chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, an international war crimes tribunal where he indicted Liberian President Charles Taylor, the first sitting African head of state in history to be held accountable in this way.
According to the report on Ukraine:
“Since the invasion, Ukrainian citizens have been forced to endure kidnappings, property destruction, starvation, terror, shellings, and murder at the hands of the Russian Federation. As is consistent with the complex and intricate history of Ukraine, Russia once again seeks to assert its dominance and control of the territory in wanton violation of international law and Ukrainian sovereignty. As of the writing of this document, President Zelenskyy continues to lead his country and seek peace for its citizens, while the Russian Federation continues its campaign of atrocities meant to terrorize Ukraine and strip it of its national identity.
There is no clearer violation of the laws of humanity. At its most basic elements, international law and the laws of humanity establish self-determination and self-expression of a people as fundamental rights free from infringement by foreign powers. President Putin, and the rest of his Russian Federation political and military command seek to upend these values and establish a new world order with authoritarianism, terror, and oppression at its center. The international community cannot remain silent, and the road does not end at sanctions — it begins.” (page 40)
The 276-page report lays out the history of Russian aggression in Ukraine, the legal framework of accountability, individuals who bear the responsibility for crimes, and the specific violations of international law.
“The Ukraine Task Force established by the Global Accountability Network (GAN) was an incredible and unique experience that allowed law students to take an active part in international legal discourse,” said Syracuse Law student 3L Christopher Martz, the task force director and one of the lead writers of the white paper. “The Ukraine Task Force encountered serious difficulties in documenting war crimes in real time, especially considering the fact that GAN pulled students from all across the country. However, the leadership of Professor Crane and the commitment of GAN volunteers helped overcome these difficulties, resulting in an important living document that creates a framework of accountability moving forward.”
Additionally, the appendix of the report offers exhaustive details of how the researchers documented their evidence:
Appendix B (page 68) is a crime narrative detailing by date and cities where crimes were committed and by the responsible party. Appendix B is a grim summary of the civilian deaths suffered during the invasion from bombings and attacks on residences, hospitals, schools, grocery stores, public buses, and many more.
Appendix C (page 102) expands on the crime narrative and provides a more detailed breakdown of the violations of International Humanitarian Law, as well as documenting violations of the Ukrainian Penal Code. Appendix C gives a day-by-day and detailed accounting of the atrocities and war crimes committed and the specific articles of the Rome Statute, Geneva Convention, and Ukrainian Penal Code they violate.
Appendix D (page 124) is a comprehensive profile detailing the command-and-control structure of the Russian political and military senior leadership. This “dossier” lists the individuals responsible for the atrocities in Ukraine, and documents relevant information surrounding their responsibility and complicity.
“We have done this once before and we can do it again with the International Criminal Court prosecuting the alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity and a United Nations-backed Special Court for Ukraine, the world’s second hybrid international war crimes tribunal, the Special Court for Ukraine the crime of aggression”, according to Crane. “Its mandate will be to prosecute those who bear the greatest responsibility for the aggression against Ukraine must include President Vladimir Putin,”
Members of the media, please contact Ellen James Mbuqe, executive director of media relations at Syracuse University, at 412-496-0551 or ejmbuqe@syr.edu, for interviews.
More about David Crane and Syracuse University
David Crane was a professor of practice at Syracuse University College of Law from 2006 until his retirement in 2018. During that time, he taught international criminal law, international humanitarian law, military law, and national security law. While at Syracuse Law, Crane founded Impunity Watch, an online student-run law review, and public service blog, and the Syrian Accountability Project (SAP), an internationally-recognized effort among students, activists, journalists, and non-governmental organizations to document war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Syrian Civil War. Crane later returned to the College of Law as a Distinguished Scholar in Residence.
In 2014, Crane co-authored the “Caesar Report” that detailed the systematic killing of thousands of people in Syria and testified about the report at the UN Security Council. Crane also has testified to the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs and its Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations on the Syria crisis and related human security and humanitarian issues. In 2016, Crane helped to draft a UN resolution “to establish a special team to ‘collect, consolidate, preserve and analyze evidence” as well as to prepare cases on war crimes and human rights abuses committed during the conflict in Syria.” Subsequently, he assisted the UN in setting up the independent justice mechanism mandated by the resolution.
When he was chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, Crane was the first American to be a Chief Prosecutor of an international war crimes tribunal since 1945 when Justice Robert Jackson and Telford Taylor were prosecutors at the Nuremberg Trials.
