This is the gripping story of Jimmy L. Thyden Gonzáles L’21 who recently discovered his status as a child who was stolen at birth and the various international legal responses that have taken place and continue to be pursued by Jimmy and others.
News
Professor Shubha Ghosh Invited to the Editorial Board of MDPI
Crandall Melvin Professor of Law Shubha Ghosh has accepted an invitation to the editorial board of MDPI, an international publisher of open-access scientific, professional, and technical journals.
Professor Ghosh, director of the Syracuse Intellectual Property Law Institute, will provide editorial guidance on various legal topics, including intellectual property, innovation law, entrepreneurship, competition law (antitrust), and comparative and international law.
About MDPI
A pioneer in scholarly, open-access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. Based in Basel, Switzerland, MDPI has the mission to foster open scientific exchange in all forms, across all disciplines.
Our 455 diverse and open-access journals, including 446 peer-reviewed journals and 9 conference journals, are supported by more than 295,000 academic experts who share our mission, values, and commitment to providing high-quality service for our authors. We serve scholars from around the world to ensure the latest research is freely available and all content is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).
MDPI’s portfolio comprises at least 237 journals with impact factors, 72% of which are ranked in the top 2 quartiles of their respective fields.
Professor Gregory Germain Discusses Elon Musk’s PAC with Newsweek
Professor Gregory Germain has weighed in on the legality of Elon Musk’s PAC, America, with Newsweek.
According to Germain, the PAC may have broken the law. “I think the PAC and its donors are vulnerable to consumer fraud and possibly election fraud claims if they make inconsistent statements about the process, or fail to disclose how the information the PAC receives will be used,” he said.
Professor Shubha Ghosh Writes “In Visa Case, DOJ Continues To Misapply The Sherman Act” at Law360
Crandall Melvin Professor of Law Shubha Ghosh has contributed the opinion article “In Visa Case, DOJ Continues To Misapply The Sherman Act” at Law360.
The article reviews the Department of Justice’s case against Visa, claiming that Visa is monopolizing the U.S. debit network services market. Ghosh also examines the history of the Sherman Antitrust Act, the DOJ’s claims, and other factors in the case.
In his conclusion, Ghosh says “Under the Biden administration, the DOJ has already reaped significant criticism for disregarding these long-adhered-to standards, and its Visa case will inevitably receive the same degree of scrutiny.”
Helping First-Generation Law Students Feel Welcome
The National First-Generation College Celebration is celebrated annually on November 8 to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Being a First-Generation Law Student (FGLS) presents unique challenges, unfamiliar surroundings, and new experiences for those pursuing a J.D. The journey through law school can be demanding, but the accomplishment of reaching this stage is significant.
Each entering class at Syracuse Law includes many FGLS, creating a supportive network of peers with shared goals. Additionally, many faculty and staff at Syracuse Law were first-generation students in college and/or law school and are available to serve as mentors, advisors, and sources of support throughout the experience.
Chief among them is Professor Courtney Abbott Hill L’09, a Syracuse native and Syracuse Law alumna who obtained her J.D., magna cum laude, in 2009. In addition to teaching Legal Communication and Research (LCR) to first-year students, she is also the Faculty Advisor to the First-Generation Law Student Association (FGLSA).
Like many law students, her path to the legal profession was not traditional. “I was a political science major at Nazareth College, and everyone asked if I was going to law school. At the time, pursuing a career as an attorney was not something I had really considered. After graduating, I was teaching and working on a master’s in education, but going to law school was always in the back of my mind. I finally took the LSAT to see whether I could get accepted at Syracuse, which was the only school I applied to.”
As a proud lifelong resident of the area, being accepted to Syracuse Law meant the world to Professor Abbott Hill. She excelled at law school, serving as Managing Editor of the Syracuse Law Review and receiving the honors of Order of the Coif and the Justinian Honor Society, among many others.
Returning to her alma mater after serving as an Appellate Court Attorney at the New York State Appellate Division, Fourth Department, and then as a regional director for a national bar prep company, meant she was able to combine her love of teaching and the law in her role on the faculty.
“I returned to Syracuse Law to teach in the bar success program. Later, I had the opportunity to teach an LCR class and fell in love with it. I was fortunate to have mentors like my first-year LCR Professors, Ian Gallacher and Aliza Milner, who recognized I’d be good at this before I did and encouraged me to apply for a full-time position teaching LCR. I am so grateful for that encouragement because I have the greatest job in the world.”
Abbott Hill can trace her passion for teaching and mentoring back to spending summers working as a camp counselor and later as a teacher and coach at a Syracuse high school. “Even if I didn’t always know I wanted to teach in law school, in hindsight, it all makes sense,” she says.
“FGLSA is an amazing organization. Student leadership purposefully doesn’t define what a first-generation law student is because they want it to be the most inclusive, supportive organization for any student, residential or JDi, that wants to be a part of it.”
—Professor Courtney Abbott Hill L’09
These experiences help inform how Abbott Hill teaches first year law students in LCR, where they learn how to research and apply law to complex factual situations. She sees teaching or assessing students through the rigors of LCR as a not one-size-fits-all proposition. “I see my job as helping students identify goals for their legal education and partnering with them to achieve those goals. There is a steep learning curve the first semester of law school, so I’m willing to try non-traditional things in the classroom to help students understand and execute difficult legal concepts.”
As the Faculty Advisor to the FGLSA, Abbott Hill uses all her skills and experiences as a lifelong mentor and educator to make an impact on Syracuse Law students. “FGLSA is an amazing organization. Student leadership purposefully doesn’t define what a first-generation law student is because they want it to be the most inclusive, supportive organization for any student, residential or JDi, that wants to be a part of it.”
The FGLSA facilitates several programs for its members, including pairing first-year and upperclassmen as “buddies”, hosting panels and symposia on issues important to FGLS, networking events, and other opportunities to build community.
“We want to make that transition to law school a little smoother to those that may feel like a fish out of water,” says Abbott Hill.
U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Continues Commitment to Service Through the Law
Anthony J. Ruscitto ’22, ’23 MPA, L’27, has lived a life of service since he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 17. And, while he’s no longer flying in military helicopters around the world, he has landed in a place close to home where he can be a voice to those in need: the Syracuse University College of Law.
Ruscitto served for five years as a CH-53H Super Stallion helicopter crew chief, which included two deployments overseas as a sergeant, weapons and tactics instructor, responsible for training enlisted aircrew at the squadron level. He received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd award), Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2nd award) for honorable service.
It was the military that first showed him how critical it is to master the basics before you practice something and dig deep to fully understand rules and regulations. Ruscitto has since adapted those lessons to navigate his continuing commitment to helping others, as well as drill down into military regulations and learn what options, resources and benefits are available to him and other veterans.
After completing his military service, the Central New York native earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and forensic science from Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences paid for entirely through the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill. Next, through the G.I. Bill and with scholarships available to veterans at Syracuse University, he was able to earn a master’s degree in public administration (MPA) from the University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
During his time on campus, he served as president of the Syracuse University Student Veterans Organization and as a program advisor and graduate student researcher for the Syracuse University D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). His commitment to serving other veterans was recognized when he was named one of the Top 8 student-veterans in the nation in 2022 and, in 2023, was named Student-Veteran of the Year by the Syracuse University Office of Veterans and Military Affairs. True to his nature, he also found other paths to service, too, volunteering as a CPR instructor and an EMT for Syracuse University Ambulance Services.
After earning his master’s degree, Ruscitto spent a year working as an administrative intern at the Onondaga County Veterans Service Agency, where he assisted veteran service officers with preparing and submitting claims for benefits from Veterans Affairs, as well as interacted with local advocacy agencies to bring a greater awareness of the needs of local veterans.
This fall, he returned to campus with a new mission: becoming a lawyer who could assist the military community by pursuing public interest or criminal defense law. His law school tuition was covered through the Veteran Readiness Program and the Department of Veteran Affairs.
“The idea that I can be the person in a courtroom who advocates for others, particularly those who have served our country, is very important. I can be a louder voice for the people who need one, and I believe that’s what public service is really all about.”
—Anthony J. Ruscitto ’22, ’23 MPA, L’27
Ruscitto’s approach to the challenges of law school is also rooted in his time in the military. “Every time I start something new, I go back to what I learned in the Marines: be honest, work hard and be humble,” he says.
“I know that I’m not the smartest person in the room and acknowledge that each person can teach me something. That encourages me to listen more closely to others’ perspectives. This mindset—that we can learn from everyone around us —comes from the Marines and has led me to continued success in ways I never thought possible,” Ruscitto adds.
Already, Ruscitto is finding his niche. He is the first-year representative for the Syracuse University Military and Veteran Legal Society, And, he is enjoying part-time work as a Syracuse Law ambassador, giving tours and introducing the law school to prospective students.
“I recently had the chance to interact with an undergraduate who is also a student-veteran, and I could tell he was uncertain about whether he could make it in law school,” Ruscitto explains. “So, I was excited to be able to show him that I am a student, I am a veteran—and I’m getting it done, and you can, too! The following week, we met up again. When you’re a veteran, it’s not always easy to see a clear path to law school, so I wanted to show him it was possible.”
Ruscitto is also enthusiastic about volunteering in the Syracuse Veterans Legal Clinic while at Syracuse Law. He says, “What better way to learn and apply the law than by helping veterans and their spouses in applying for the benefits they already earned?”
When Ruscitto graduates and adds “lawyer” to his long list of accomplishments, he intends to continue to advocate for veterans and members of the military. “I hope to stay in my own back yard and help veterans and citizens right here in the Syracuse community. Maybe that will be as a prosecutor or as a defense attorney. I don’t know yet, but, in the end, I’ll get to help people,” he says. “It’s a duty, and it’s an opportunity. No one should have to worry if they are getting fair treatment, even if they find themselves on the wrong side of the law. The idea that I can be the person in a courtroom who advocates for others, particularly those who have served our country, is very important. I can be a louder voice for the people who need one, and I believe that’s what public service is really all about.”
Professor Katherine Macfarlane Helps Fact Check NY Prop 1 Misinformation
Professor Katherine Macfarlane spoke with USA Today for the article “New York’s Prop. 1 is a ‘backstop’ to protect rights, expert says | Fact check.”
Proposition 1, also known as the Equal Rights Amendment, is a proposed state constitutional amendment that would expand anti-discrimination protections for certain groups, including immigrants and those who have changed their gender identity.
Macfarlane says “Whenever rights are protected in the constitution, it’s harder to then pass a statute due to political whims to weaken them.”
“Reasonable” – Professor Emeritus William C. Banks on Governors Placing the National Guard on Standby Before the Election
Professor Emeritus William C. Banks recently spoke with the Military Times for the article “States put National Guard on standby in case of election violence.”
Banks, who authored a book on the domestic use of the military, said “The precautionary measures by governors — activating or placing on alert members of their state National Guard — are reasonable in the same way that similar call-ups would precede a major storm that threatens a state.”
3Ls Savana Conrade and Suzan Elzawahry Win the 47th Annual Lionel O. Grossman Trial Competition
3Ls Savana Conrade and Suzan Elzawahry prevailed over 3Ls Nathan Hankey and Olivia Murphy in the 47th Annual Lionel O. Grossman Trial Competition. Elzawahry was selected as the Best Advocate.
Dennis Scanlon L’19, Associate at Goldberg Segalla was the presiding judge with Nicole Macris L’18, Associate at Bond, Schoeneck, & King, and Thomas Taylor L’87, of Counsel at Bousquet Holstein serving as judge/evaluators.
Syracuse University College of Law Partners with Kaplan to Provide All Students with Free Prep Courses for the Bar Exam
Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)
Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com
Fort Lauderdale, FL (October 28, 2024) — Syracuse University College of Law will begin providing all its graduating students with free comprehensive test prep for the bar exam through a new partnership with global educational services provider Kaplan, as part of its award-winning All Access initiative. Syracuse Law students in the Class of 2025 will be the first to take advantage of this new offering. Kaplan will also provide the school and students with other robust, comprehensive academic support services, from orientation through graduation, including integrated curriculum, diagnostics, and assessments.
Kelly Curtis, associate dean for academic and bar success at Syracuse Law, said:
“Kaplan’s program offers several resources to enhance our students’ preparation for the bar exam and our academic support efforts. We believe these added resources will significantly improve the support we provide our students as they prepare for the bar and beyond.”
Kimberly Batrice Hytree, executive director of bar institutional programs, Kaplan, said:
“Kaplan is proud to partner with Syracuse University College of Law to provide this transformative opportunity to all its students. As an All Access partner, Syracuse Law is investing in a holistic, integrated program that culminates in free bar exam prep, showcasing their commitment to supporting students from the very start of their law school experience. The bar exam is a challenging milestone for future attorneys, and we are dedicated to equipping students with the essential knowledge and skills they need, beginning on day one, so they can be successful throughout their academic journey.”
As part of Kaplan’s All Access initiative, institutions of higher learning, including law schools and medical schools, can help their students prepare for a variety of high-stakes admissions and licensing exams that they need to score well on to reach their ultimate professional goals—with zero out-of-pocket costs for students. Earlier this year, Fast Company named Kaplan’s All Access initiative the winner of its World Changing Ideas Award, in the large business category.
Kaplan has prepared students for standardized tests for more than 85 years, and Syracuse University College of Law is its newest All Access partner, joining Xavier University of Louisiana, Howard University, Delaware State University, Talladega College, Stillman College, Fisk University, Hampton University, Spelman College, and Cleveland State University, among others.
Interested reporters can contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.
Syracuse University College of Law
Founded in 1895, Syracuse University College of Law offers a forward-leaning, rigorous legal education that prepares lawyers to succeed in the modern legal profession and related fields. The College is known for innovative programs, such as its online J.D. program, JDinteractive; an expansive externship program; a highly ranked Advocacy Program; three interdisciplinary institutes; and 11 joint degree options offered in partnership with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and other schools and colleges at Syracuse University. Through its classroom and practical curriculum, the College of Law ensures that graduates have the knowledge, discipline, and analytical and practical skills required for 21st century legal practitioners in a fast-changing global and technological environment. Learn more at law.syracuse.edu.
About Kaplan
Kaplan, Inc. is a global educational services company that helps individuals and institutions advance their goals in an ever-changing world. Our broad portfolio of solutions help students and professionals further their education and careers, universities and educational institutions attract and support students, and businesses maximize employee recruitment, retainment, and development. Stanley Kaplan founded our company in 1938 with a mission to expand educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Today, our thousands of employees working in 27 countries/regions continue Stanley’s mission as they serve about 1.2 million students and professionals, 15,000 corporate clients, and 3,300 schools, school districts, colleges, and universities worldwide. Kaplan is a subsidiary of the Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC). Learn more at kaplan.com.
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