News

College of Law Students Contribute Comment on Proposed New Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 707 on Artificial Intelligence

Ten College of Law students, under the direction of Professor Todd Berger, researched and wrote a public comment on a proposed new federal rule of evidence. The Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Evidence Rules proposes amendments to existing evidence rules and the creation of new rules to the Federal Rules of Evidence, which the pubic could submit comments before the Committee makes a recommendation.

The students selected to write on proposed Rule 707 that addresses growing concerns around the use of AI-generated evidence, particularly when such evidence functions similarly to expert testimony and raises parallel questions of reliability, bias, error, and interpretability.

The submission focused on how the proposed Rule 707 was duplicitous of existing rules and on the use of AI models as a substitute for expert testimony. The students tested and debated the use of AI for expert testimony using a variety of AI models before submitting their comment.

“This was a unique legal research and writing exercise crossed with the Federal Rules of Evidence that produced a reasoned, practical comment that would be reviewed by the Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Evidence,” said Berger. “The comment brought a different perspective on the proposed rule that the committee had yet to consider. It’s not often that law students could possibly shape a rule of evidence and impact the practice of law in Federal courts and possibly in state courts.”

The Committee will propose any amendments and new rules to the Rule of Evidence before submitting it to the United States Supreme Court for approval and then to Congress for final adoption.

Students took on this challenge for a variety of reasons and learned about how AI could be used in legal proceedings.

“I got involved with this research because in my personal life I do not use or like the use of AI. I wanted to be informed and involved in expressing concern about AI usage and its implications for the legal field. Over the course of our work, I used several AI platforms and saw how they responded, how different platforms think, and the variety of answers and possibilities from it,” said Emily Bielecki L’26. “Though I think it can be useful in closed universes and tailored platforms, like Lexis or Westlaw, I was reassured that AI makes mistakes and should never be substituted for expertise. I think our comment was thorough and provides blatant evidence and examples of why AI cannot be used as an expert witness. I hope it is taken seriously and reviewed by the Committee with the same thoroughness as it was written.”

“My decision to get involved stemmed from my background as a scientist. The proposed rule sits at the intersection of expert evidence and legal standards for reliability, and I wanted to contribute to the conversation that could shape how courts evaluate these new tools, especially as they become more common not just in scientific research but common life,” said Jimmie Bullock L’28. “During this court, what stood out to me most was how much precision matters, because small wording choices can have major consequences in litigation. Our comment focused heavily on generative AI platform, and it seemed that while the Committee’s intentions were genuine in addressing a larger problem, the proposal may have opened a door to a significant unintended consequence. I think our comment offered not only a real-world simulation of how the rule premature, but also careful analysis of those vulnerabilities. I hope the Committee sees our submission not just as a student project, but as a serious contribution from future litigators who are invested in protecting the integrity of the trial process.”

Professor Katherine Macfarlane Comments on Department of Homeland Security’s Civil Rights Staffing

Professor Katherine Macfarlane, director of the Disability Law and Policy Program, spoke with Mother Jones for the article, DHS Axed Its Civil Rights Staff—And Opened the Door to a Major Lawsuit.

In the article, Macfarlane raised concerns that Troup Hemenway, the DHS’ Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties acting head, “doesn’t appear to have typically relevant civil rights expertise.”

Professor Jessica Murray Participates in Syracuse University’s “Leading with Distinction” Showcase on Experiential Inquiry on Feb. 23

Professor Jessica Murray, Director of the College of Law’s Transactional Law Clinic, will participate in Syracuse University’s “Leading with Distinction” Showcase on Experiential Inquiry on Feb. 23, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at 304 Schine Student Center.

The event will showcase the many ways in which students at Syracuse University benefit from innovative experiential learning opportunities, which is an area of distinctive excellence highlighted in our academic strategic plan.

Murray will participate in the “Implementation – Putting It Into Practice” breakout session and will discuss mid-level experiential learning, including the balance between increased autonomy and appropriate support in clinical legal education.”

“Syracuse University’s Academic Strategic Plan includes five Areas of Distinctive Excellence, one of which is Experiential Inquiry.  The Clinics at the College of Law, including the Transactional Law Clinic, provide real-world law practice experience, in addition to classroom experience, under the supervision of Clinic Directors who are licensed attorneys,” said Murray

Transactional Law Clinic services provided by student attorneys include assisting clients with business and non-profit entity formation; contract drafting and review; licensing; trademark, copyright and trade secret protection; confidentiality agreements; operating agreements; corporate governance issues; applications for tax-exempt status; and regulatory compliance. This Clinic participates in the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Law School Clinic Certification Program for Trademarks and has an affiliation with the College of Law’s Innovation Law Center.

The College of Law offers seven clinics that provide free legal services to underrepresented local residents: Bankruptcy Clinic, Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, Criminal Defense Clinic, Housing Clinic, Sherman F. Levey ’57, L’59 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership, and the Transactional Law Clinic.

Professor Katherine Macfarlane Comments on Department of Homeland Security’s Civil Rights Staffing

Professor Katherine Macfarlane, director of the Disability Law and Policy Program, spoke with Mother Jones for the article, DHS Axed Its Civil Rights Staff—And Opened the Door to a Major Lawsuit.

In the article, Macfarlane raised concerns that Troup Hemenway, the DHS’ Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties acting head, “doesn’t appear to have typically relevant civil rights expertise.”

Professor Katherine Macfarlane Elected to Chair the Association of American Law Schools Section on Women in Legal Education

Professor Katherine Macfarlane, Director of the Syracuse University College of Law’s Disability Law and Policy Program, was elected to Chair the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on Women in Legal Education (WILE), the largest AALS section.

She was previously the section’s Chair-elect and Treasurer. Macfarlane has also served as chair of the AALS Section on Disability Law and co-founded the first AALS affinity group for disabled law professors and allies. She frequently presents and writes about students, lawyers, and professors with disabilities, and the challenges they face in obtaining reasonable accommodations. 

“It is an honor to lead this important and influential section,” said Macfarlane. “I am excited for this opportunity to give back by providing leadership and mentorship to all women in legal education.”

According to the AALS, “The Section on Women in Legal Education provides information to its members respecting the integration of women and women’s concerns into the legal profession and the law, promotes the communication of ideas, interests and activities among members of the Section, makes recommendations on matters concerning the administration of law schools and on the status of women in legal education and makes recommendations on matters of interest in the teaching and improvement of the law school curriculum.”

At the recent WILE Conference held at Boston University School of Law, Macfarlane participated in the Gender and Status in the Legal Academy and Profession panel.

Macfarlane teaches Civil Rights Litigation, Constitutional Law, and Disability Law and is a Senior Fellow at the Burton Blatt Institute. He scholarship has appeared in or will appear in the Georgetown Law Journal, Ohio State Law Journal, Washington Law Review, North Carolina Law Review, Fordham Law Review, Alabama Law Review, Yale Law Journal Forum, Columbia Law Review Forum,  American University Law Review, William and Mary Bill of Rights Journal, and the Stanford Journal of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, among others. 

Disability Law and Policy Program Hosts Accommodations in Higher Ed and Professional Licensing Webinar

Please join the Disability Law and Policy Program (DLPP) on March 17, 2026, from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, for a webinar featuring Mary J. Goodwin-Oquendo L’09 focused on “Accommodations in Higher Ed & Professional Licensing.”  Her remarks will address her experience as a civil rights lawyer who represents people with disabilities. The webinar will be co-moderated by DLPP Director Professor Katherine Macfarlane, and Disabled Law Students Association leaders Kaitlin Sommer and Emely Recinos.

Register

Goodwin-Oquendo advocates for individuals with cognitive, physical, and psychiatric disabilities who have experienced discrimination in school and/or require accommodations on high stakes admissions and licensing examinations. Prior to starting her own practice, she worked closely with activist, attorney, and NYS Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon of Jo Anne Simon P.C. During her time at Jo Anne Simon P.C., Ms. Goodwin-Oquendo collaborated with various affinity groups to provide vital feedback to the United States Department of Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which was incorporated into the agencies’ final rules enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008.

Mary Goodwin-Oquendo L’09

Goodwin-Oquendo is a member of the New York State Bar Association, and an appointed member of the association’s Committee on Disability Rights. She has developed continuing legal education coursework and currently serves as one of the editors of the New York State Bar Association’s disability treatise. She is also a member of the Disability Rights Bar Association, the National Employment Lawyers Association/New York, the New York City Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and previously served on the executive board of the New York Urban League Young Professionals and the National Urban League Young Professionals Programs Committee. She also serves as a Fordham University School of Law adjunct professor. She earned her BA in History and Political Science from St. Joseph’s College, where she was class valedictorian, and her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law. Goodwin-Oquendo was recently featured in a Syracuse University Today profile, available here.

If you require accommodations for the webinar, please contact Anna Dallam, atdallam@syr.edu.

Syracuse University College of Law Welcomes Student Attorneys at Spring 2026 Clinic Swearing-In Ceremony

Each semester, the Office of Clinical Legal Education at Syracuse University College of Law marks an important milestone for its clinic students: the Clinic Swearing-In Ceremony. The event formally welcomes students into their roles as student attorneys and underscores their professional and ethical responsibilities to the clients they will serve.

On February 5, 2026, 81 law students participating in Syracuse Law’s clinical programs took the Student Attorney Oath during a ceremony presided over by the Hon. Wendy A. Kinsella L’95, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of New York. The ceremony was held in the College of Law’s Melanie Gray Ceremonial Courtroom and brought together students, faculty, and administrators to celebrate the start of the students’ clinical practice experience.

During the ceremony, students pledged to act in the best interests of their clients, uphold the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, and serve with integrity, diligence, and courage; commitments that mirror the responsibilities they will assume as licensed attorneys.

“You are no longer just students of theory,” Judge Kinsella said. “You are now practitioners in training, ready to use your skills for service and advocacy.  This journey ahead will be very demanding, but it is also immensely satisfying.”  Judge Kinsella reminded students that lawyering is as much about listening and compassion as it is about knowing the law. She emphasized the importance of treating clients as people, not problems, maintaining respect and integrity in every interaction, and earning trust as counselors and advisors.

Syracuse Law offers seven in-house clinics that allow students to represent real clients under faculty supervision, applying doctrinal learning in high-impact, hands-on settings, and is among the very few law schools nationwide to offer fully online, in-house clinical experiences as part of an ABA-approved hybrid JD program. Three clinics, the Sherman F. Levey ’57, L’59 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, Transactional Law Clinic, and Bankruptcy Clinic, are offered online through the College’s innovative JDinteractive (JDi) program.

The JDi program is a flexible, ABA-approved hybrid Juris Doctor pathway designed for students who cannot relocate or attend law school full time on campus. JDi students complete the same curriculum, meet the same academic standards, and participate in the same experiential learning opportunities as residential students, including live-client representation through Syracuse Law’s clinical programs.

“Clinical education is where students begin to see themselves as lawyers,” said Professor Jessica Murray, Director of the Transactional Law Clinic. “Whether students are working in person or online, the clinic experience demands accountability, empathy, and real-world problem-solving. The oath they take at the swearing-in reflects the ethical responsibilities to their clients that they will uphold in their clinical work and in practice once they are admitted to the Bar.”

The ceremony was hosted by the Office of Clinical Legal Education and opened by Professor Suzette Meléndez, Director of the Syracuse Medical Legal Partnership. Dean Terence Lau L’98 also addressed the students, emphasizing the seriousness of the oath and the responsibility that comes with representing underserved and often marginalized clients.

“This ceremony reflects who we are as a law school,” said Professor Beth Kubala, Executive Director of the Office of Clinical Legal Education. “Our clinics place students in positions of real responsibility, serving clients who may not otherwise have access to legal representation. The oath they take today is the foundation of ethical lawyering, and the beginning of a transformative professional journey.”

For students, the ceremony marked a powerful transition from classroom learning to client-centered advocacy.

“Taking the oath marked a shift in our legal careers,” said student attorney Pamela Reynolds L’26.  “Knowing that real people are relying on our work carries weight far beyond an assignment. That responsibility is humbling, motivating, and central to why I came to law school.”

The Spring 2026 Clinic Swearing-In Ceremony reaffirmed Syracuse Law’s long-standing commitment to experiential education, access to justice, and preparing students—across modalities—for meaningful, service-driven legal careers.

Judge Kinsella L’95

College of Law 2025 Ultimate Bar Passage Rate Reaches 94%

Syracuse University College of Law achieved 94% Ultimate Bar Passage rate for 2025 (representing the Class of 2023), further demonstrating the impact of the College’s mission of supporting its students from admission through the bar exam.  Graduates took the bar exam in 25 states, reflecting the national reach of our hybrid online J.D. program, JDinteractive.

The Class of 2024 has also already achieved 94% Ultimate Bar Passage rate with two bar administrations remaining.

“I want to congratulate our graduates who have passed the bar and are practicing all over the world,” said Dean Terence Lau L’98. “This is a direct result of the College’s and Dean Kelly Curtis’ ongoing commitment to supporting our students throughout their legal education right up to the crucial bar exam.”

The College continues to strategically invest in academic and bar support efforts, including increasing the number of staff in the Office of Academic and Bar Support (OABS). The OABS is charged with delivering highly targeted bar preparation programming and support. Bar preparation initiatives include:

  • Intensive “boot camp” sessions that focus on bar exam topics and study strategies
  • Bar preparation checklists
  • Bar-related courses
  • Quarterly email newsletters
  • Individual support for students most at risk on the bar exam
  • A partnership with Kaplan Bar Review that provides students with materials from the 1L year through the bar exam

“The 2025 results  continue our upwards trajectory in Ultimate Bar Passage rate, and I am proud of the accomplishments of our graduates,” said Associate Dean of Students and Teaching Professor Kelly Curtis. “The Office of Academic and Bar Support and our faculty continue to refine and adapt our bar preparation programming to meet the changing needs of the profession, most notably the NextGen Bar Exam.”

Furthermore, eight of the past nine graduating classes have exceeded 90% Ultimate Bar Passage rate.

Dean Curtis’s efforts in academic and bar support were recently recognized by the American Association of Law Schools Section on Academic Support as the recipient of its Impact Award, which recognizes legal educators who are “inspiring students and peers in the academic support profession today and catapulting us forward to a stronger tomorrow.”

Honoring Legacy, Inspiring the Future: The Karen DeCrow Panel 2026

You’re invited to join us for an evening of meaningful conversation and celebration as we explore the enduring legacy of Karen DeCrow L’72 and the vital role of mentorship in advancing women in the legal profession. This year’s panel brings together inspiring voices to discuss how generational support and mentorship continue to shape opportunities for women lawyers – honoring the trailblazing work of Karen DeCrow L’72 while looking toward the future she helped build.

Join us for the 2026 Karen Decrow event, with an image of Karen on the right-hand panel.

Event Details

📅 Wednesday, March 4, 2026

🕕 5:00 p.m. panel, networking reception to follow 

📍 Dineen Hall, Syracuse University College of Law

Register Here

2026 Panelists

Janet Callahan, Partner at Hancock Estabrook
Hon. Bernadette Clark L’89, Supreme Court Justice 
Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks L’91, U.S. Magistrate Judge 
Catherine Gale G’78, L’78, Partner at Gale, Gale & Hunt LLC
Hon. Deborah Karalunas L’82, 5JD Administrative Judge 

Thank you to our event sponsors

The Onondaga County Bar Association, the Northern District of NY Federal Court Bar Association, the Fifth Judicial District NYS Unified Court System, and the Central NY Women’s Bar Association.

Five logos for the College of Law, Onondaga County Bar Association, CNY WBA, NDNY

From LL.M. to J.D. to “I Do”: A Syracuse Love Story for Luiza Cristovam LL.M.’23 L’26

When Luiza Cristovam LL.M.’23, L’26 walks across the stage at the Syracuse University College of Law Commencement Ceremony this May, she’ll be celebrating more than a degree. That same day, surrounded by her family from Brazil and his family from Snohomish, Washington, she and Arick Grootveld Ph.D. ’27 will spend the second half of their day celebrating their marriage.

Luiza and Arick’s story began the way some of the best ones do: by accident.

Long before she ever set foot on campus, Luiza’s journey to Syracuse began in Brazil with a canceled interview, a neighborhood power outage, and a last-minute change of plans.

Her father, a judge, had been scheduled to appear on a legal podcast. When a power outage forced the interview to be postponed, it was rescheduled for a later date—one that Luiza decided to attend with him while her mother was traveling. That day, she crossed paths with Professor Antonio Gidi, who was also being interviewed. During the conversation, Luiza’s father mentioned that his daughter spoke English fluently and was interested in studying abroad. Professor Gidi took notice and the next day, he followed up.

“Professor Gidi called and said, ‘Luiza needs to come to Syracuse to pursue her LL.M. degree,’” she recalled.

What began as a chance encounter quickly became an opportunity. Luiza applied, was accepted, and soon found herself preparing for a year of legal study in Central New York, unaware that it would become much more than that.

When she arrived in Syracuse, her story continued with another twist of fate. She mistakenly arrived too early, thinking orientation started on August 7 instead of August 14. New to the city, alone in her apartment, and eager to meet people, she downloaded a few dating apps. On her second day here in Syracuse, she went out for a pizza dinner with Arick for a first date, and the two have been inseparable since.

As the year passed while she was completing her LL.M. degree, Luiza began to get the feeling that she was not ready to leave Syracuse. She had Optional Practical Training (OPT) as an F-1 visa holder, which would allow her 12 months to work in the U.S. to gain practical work experience, but she didn’t feel ready to leave either Syracuse, Arick, or the law.

“I soon decided to invest in the on-campus J.D. program to give myself a chance at practicing law in the U.S. in the future,” she said. “I loved what I was doing professionally. And I also wanted to see where this relationship would go.”

Back home in Brazil, Luiza holds an LL.B. and is already a lawyer. Her initial plan was to earn an LL.M. in the United States and return to Brazil to teach law. Legal study runs in the family, as her father is a Brazilian judge, and she grew up surrounded by the legal profession.

As her connection to Syracuse deepened through her studies, her growing sense of purpose, and her relationship with Arick, Luiza began to see her time here not as a temporary chapter, but as the foundation for everything that would come next.

“It was an easy decision to stay,” she said. “Immigrating is hard. Coming from another country is hard. But it is worth it—and he is worth it.”

What began as a one-year plan had become a life she wasn’t ready to leave.

Looking Ahead—Together

After Commencement, Luiza will turn her attention to preparing for the bar exam in July before beginning her legal career as an attorney with the Cortland County, NY Public Defender’s Office, a path she discovered after attending a public defense talk on campus.

For Luiza, the role represents both professional purpose and personal growth—a chance to serve communities while continuing to build the life she and Arick have envisioned together. Meanwhile, Arick is working towards his doctoral thesis on quantum information theory and preparing for the next stage of his academic career.

Throughout their time together, Luiza says, Arick has consistently shown his commitment not only through words, but through action. One of the clearest examples is language. Since they met, Arick has been steadily learning Portuguese so he can better communicate with Luiza’s family and understand her culture. He practices daily and regularly surprises her with new phrases and expressions.

“He even reacts the way Brazilians typically do sometimes,” she said, laughing. “It means so much to me.”

That same thoughtfulness extends to every part of their relationship, from helping classmates and friends to supporting Luiza through the most demanding moments of law school. Now, with graduation approaching, their focus is on balancing celebration with preparation. On Commencement Day, they will walk from ceremony to courthouse, beginning their married life on a day that unites Luiza’s academic journey, her family, and her future.

Looking back, Luiza sees a series of coincidences that led her exactly where she was meant to be, from a rescheduled podcast in Brazil to a first dinner date in Syracuse.

“There was no universe but this exact universe where we met,” she said. “Everything happened the way it had to.”