News

Professor Lauryn Gouldin’s Research Uses Artificial Intelligence to Improve Fairness of Criminal Court Scheduling

 College of Law professor who is an expert on criminal court pretrial appearance is partnering with computer science faculty to see if artificial intelligence tools and optimized data analysis can improve fairness and efficiency in scheduling defendants’ court dates.

Headshot of woman in glasses smiling.

Lauryn Gouldin (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Lauryn Gouldin, Crandall Melvin Professor of Law and a 2022-25 Laura J. & L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence, is one of three researchers on the project, “End-to-End Learning of Fair and Explainable Schedules for Court Systems.” She and Fernando (Nando) Fioretto, assistant professor of computer science at the University of Virginia (formerly of Syracuse University) and William Yeoh, associate professor of computer science and engineering at Washington University in St. Louis received a $600,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for the research. They are examining three issues: the uniformity and fairness of criminal court-date scheduling processes, if individual circumstances are considered when setting court dates, and whether a “smarter” computerized system can produce more equity and efficiency in those processes.

Ensuring that defendants who are released before trial return to court as scheduled is one of the primary goals of the pretrial process, Gouldin says. “Fortunately, data across jurisdictions suggest that most defendants show up for court as required. With bail reform efforts in many jurisdictions leading to higher rates of pretrial release, courts are focused on ensuring that pretrial appearance rates remain high,” she says.

Scheduling court appearances on dates and at times that work for defendants will help keep pretrial appearance rates high and avoid court system inefficiencies, she believes. Many factors—often legitimate hardships—can influence whether a defendant appears in court when scheduled. Gouldin says those factors are not consistently considered by courts and there is little uniformity in how appearance dates are scheduled from court to court.

The researchers are working to produce a system that predicts dates and times when defendants are more likely to appear versus being assigned an arbitrary court date or time. They believe having that knowledge, along with more flexibility in scheduling court dates—such as setting evening or weekend appearance dates—could improve pretrial appearance rates and create a more equitable scheduling process overall.

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Shannon Chamberlain L’24 Wins Top Student Paper in the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Law and Policy Division Competition

Shannon Chamberlain L’24 wrote the Top Student Paper in the Law and Policy Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) competition and presented the paper at their recent conference.

Chamberlain’s paper is ESCAPING LIABILITY FOR THE “GRAVEST OF THREATS”: EXPANDING ARTICLE 1, SECTION 6 IMMUNITY AND NARROWING BRANDENBURG INCITEMENT.

“This was an exceptional paper on a novel and contemporary issue with a compelling legal analysis and argument.  I know the judges were impressed, too,” says Professor Roy Gutterman L’00. “Congratulations to Shannon for this achievement in a very competitive media law scholarship competition.”

Professor Shubha Ghosh Publishes Second Edition of “Questions and Answers: Antitrust” Textbook

Crandall Melvin Professor of Law Shubha Ghosh has published the second edition of his textbook “Questions and Answers: Antitrust” with Carolina Academic Press.

This second edition of Questions & Answers: Antitrust adds many new questions reflecting developments in antitrust law over the past decade: challenges to NCAA professionalism rules limiting athletes’ rights in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL); pay for delay agreements; intellectual property limits on antitrust; credit card platforms; and trade associations. With these additions, students will continue to better understand what they are learning and prepare effectively for exams by applying concepts learned in antitrust courses. This study guide includes over 150 multiple-choice and short-answer questions arranged topically for ease of use during the semester, plus an additional set of 40 questions comprising a comprehensive “practice exam.”

For each multiple-choice question, the book provides a detailed answer that indicates which of the four options is the best answer and explains thoroughly why that option is better than the other three options. Each short-answer question is designed to be answered in fifteen minutes or less and includes a thoughtful, comprehensive, yet brief, model answer.

Professor Nina Kohn Quoted on Court Complicity in NY Guardianship Cases in ProPublica Article

Professor Nina Kohn spoke with ProPublica for the article, “This Guardian Enriched Herself Using the Finances of Vulnerable People in Her Care. Judges Let It Happen.” The article uncovers apparent conflict of interest, profiting at wards’ expenses, and lax judicial oversight in multiple guardianship arrangements that placed Yvonne Murphy in charge of caring for vulnerable individuals.

ProPublica writes: But Murphy’s story illustrates just how culpable judges themselves can be in the system’s breakdown, permitting financial arrangements that experts said were unequivocally improper — even in cases when examiners point out potential problems. Lawyers, advocates and researchers alike say this laissez-faire judicial culture is the product of crushing caseloads, sparse resources and a shallow pool of guardians willing to take the most challenging cases. In New York City, there are just over a dozen judges who handle the 17,411 people in guardianships, data provided by the courts show.

“The easiest way to reduce the workload is not to look for problems,” said Kohn. “The second-easiest way is when you see problems, to ignore them.”

Angela R. Hamilton L’25 Selected as One of 25 Women Student Veterans for a 2024 Focus Forward Fellowship

Angela R. Hamilton L’25 was selected as one of 25 women student veterans for a 2024 Focus Forward Fellowship, hosted by the Military and Family Research Institute at Purdue University.

The Fellowship connects Purdue faculty and women student veterans and service members from around the country to help the student veterans grow their professional network and reach their career and academic goals.  The cohort of Fellows are provided with mentors and coaches whom they met at a recent four-day in-person residency at Purdue. The Fellows will continue to meet in an online community throughout the year.  The mentors help the Fellows harness new skills, strengthen self-confidence, and facilitate community building.

Hamilton is a retired veteran of the U.S. Navy. At Syracuse Law, she participates in the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic and is a member of the Military and Veterans Law Society.

VA ‘Cuse Vet Fest to be Held at Syracuse University College of Law on September 6

The ‘Cuse Vet Fest, a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Syracuse VA Medical Center and Syracuse University College of Law’s Military and Veterans Law Society (MVLS), will be held on Friday, September 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Dineen Hall’s Levey Atrium.

The event is free and open to all Syracuse-area veterans, including Syracuse University student, faculty, and staff veterans who are not enrolled in VA health care and want to learn more about eligibility and how to sign up.

Attendees can:

  • Enroll in VA Healthcare (Please bring a copy of DD214 and Photo ID)
  • File a claim with VBA
  • Obtain a Veteran Health ID Card (Please bring a Photo ID)
  • Learn how the PACT Act (Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxic Acts) expands healthcare benefits for Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras and were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. PACT Act also extends eligibility to survivors of these exposed Veterans.
  • Engage with VA professionals
  • Visit with a variety of local community resources

Representatives from Syracuse University’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs and the Office of Veteran Success will be in attendance. MVLS students will guide attendees and facilitate interactions with partner organizations.

For more information, contact Emma.Avellino@va.gov or egkubala@syr.edu.

1L Returns to Study Law and Her Options in Her Hometown

Ryleigh Peterson sits in a brightly lit room and smiles at the camera

“For me, the decision to pursue a career in law is deeply rooted in the desire to effect positive change, provide client advocacy and foster relationships and community support. For these reasons, there was no better place for me to begin my legal career than Syracuse Law.”

—Ryleigh Peterson L’26

A Central New York native, Ryleigh Peterson L’26 only applied to one law school—The Syracuse University College of Law. “For me, the decision to pursue a career in law is deeply rooted in the desire to effect positive change, provide client advocacy and foster relationships and community support,” she says. “For these reasons, there was no better place for me to begin my legal career than Syracuse Law.”

While earning a bachelor’s degree in media studies with a minor in legal studies at Hunter College in New York City, Peterson worked as a legal personnel intern at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. Her interest in being a paralegal led to a position as a collateral review intern with the firm. Upon graduation, Peterson accepted a corporate paralegal position at Cravath, where she assisted the banking and credits, and mergers and acquisitions practice groups. However, she eventually returned to her hometown of Skaneateles, New York, and went to work as a business paralegal at Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC, in its Syracuse office. Not long after, she decided to pursue law school.

Peterson and Ortizo chat together in front of the brick facade of Dineen Hall

Since starting at Syracuse Law in Fall 2023, Peterson has been finding her way, making friends and figuring out what practice of the law she’d like to pursue. Returning to academia after three years of working professionally took some adjusting, but Peterson found comfort knowing she is where she belongs.

“As a 1L, I am passionate about learning, and I enjoy analysis and critical thinking,” she explains. “I like connecting the dots from my time as a paralegal to my current studies of the law.”

Already, she has learned some valuable lessons. “Law school has prepared me to get out of my comfort zone and learn new skill sets,” Peterson says. “I’m constantly pushing myself and doing things that I wouldn’t have done before I started here. Syracuse Law is preparing me to think critically, tackle difficult problems and shape myself into a future working professional.”

Peterson currently works as a law ambassador, giving tours of the school to prospective students, and also as a work-study student in the admission and financial aid office. She has also made a tight-knit group of friends who understand the pressures and expectations of law school.

Peterson reading a Syracuse magazine in the Admissions office where she works as a Law School Ambassador

“We’re all going through this process together. Law school is not easy but having a support system that understands what you’re going through makes it more manageable,” she says, noting that her parents, sisters and boyfriend have been “her rock” during the process.

Peterson is looking forward to returning to Bond, Schoeneck & King as a summer law clerk. “Right now, I think I’d like to work in corporate law because that’s the kind of experience I had as a paralegal, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it,” she says. “But, I still have a lot of learning to do, so who knows? I’m open to possibilities as I continue to take more classes.”

Peterson already has some advice to offer students just beginning the law school path. “Have confidence in yourself and be kind,” she says. “Law school is challenging, but you and your classmates are all going through this process for the first time. It’s a learning curve for everyone, and everyone learns differently. Stay true to yourself, and don’t compare yourself to anyone else. This experience is extremely rewarding in many ways, so embrace it!”

Syracuse Law Named a “Best Law School” by The Princeton Review

Syracuse Law is named a “Best Law School” in The Princeton Review Law School listing for 2024. The “Best Law School” list is based on key program elements such as career outcomes, admissions selectivity, academic rigor, and a combination of institutional and student survey data.

 In addition, Syracuse Law was ranked #10 in the nation for “Most Chosen by Older Students” and #2 overall for “Most Competitive Students.”

“Our JDinteractive program attracts established professionals seeking the flexibility of an online J.D. program as they seek to advance or change their careers,” says Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management Kathy Fox.

JDinteractive was listed by The Princeton Review as one of the Best Online J.D. Programs in 2024.

University Professor David Driesen Discusses President Biden’s Supreme Court Reform Proposal on KTVU

University Professor David Driesen was interviewed by KTVU TV on President Biden’s recently proposed Supreme Court of the United States reforms.

“The court itself has become an enemy of the rule of law. It doesn’t follow precedent, it makes up new Constitutional doctrines liberating the president from the rule of law. The rule of law, what it is all about, is that it applies to everybody, especially to political leaders,” says Driesen. “There will be intense pushback of people saying anything that intrudes on the Supreme Court is improper.”

Acting Dean Keith J. Bybee Provides Insight into President Biden’s Recent Proposed Reforms to the Supreme Court of the United States

Acting Dean Keith J. Bybee, the Paul E. and Hon. Joanne F. Alper ’72 Judiciary Studies Professor, recently spoke with Agence France-Press on President Biden’s proposed reforms to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Bybee said 6-3 rulings such as the presidential immunity decision make the court appear more partisan in its decision-making.

“But also, this majority is quite emboldened,” he said, rendering decisions that are “quite sweeping and overturn decades-old precedents” such as in the case of abortion.

“Those two factors together prompted a lot of concern among the Democratic Party about the power of the court,” Bybee said.