News

Professor William Banks Speaks with The Guardian on Immigration Arrests on U.S. Military Base

Professor of Law Emeritus William Banks discussed possible Posse Comitatus Act violations during traffic stops on a U.S. Military Base in California with The Guardian. His comments are in the story, “‘We got hooked’: arrests on US army base spark fear of military coordination with ICE.”

The traffic stops and on-base detentions at Fort Hunter Liggett appear to violate the spirit of the Act and represent a “creep in the wrong direction toward military participation in law enforcement”, said Banks.

Banks also said the traffic stops at Fort Hunter Liggett set a dangerous precedent of harnessing military resources for domestic political goals.

Professor Nina Kohn Leads Efforts to Reform Model Rule of Professional Conduct

Distinguished Professor of Law Nina Kohn has helped lead a successful effort to reform the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rule of Professional Conduct (MRPC) 1.14, which addresses how lawyers work with clients with decision-making limitations.


For more than a decade, Kohn has been working to make the case for reforming MRPC 1.14 through her scholarship and public service work.  More recently, she helped lead a group of ABA leaders and legal experts, including other academics, judges, and practicing attorneys, to consider reforms and draft an improved rule. The reformed rule was adopted by the ABA House of Delegates at the ABA’s recent midyear meeting.


 “The old ethics rule was both confusing to attorneys and provided them with insufficient guidance on how to deal with the thorny ethical issues that frequently come up when representing a client with cognitive capacity challenges,” Kohn explains.  “Worse yet, it inadvertently encouraged some lawyers to make some bad calls when working with clients with cognitive disabilities, while leaving lawyers doing the ‘right thing’ by clients with such disabilities having their conduct questioned—or even threatened with disciplinary action.”


Kohn describes the new rule as “a major step forward for individuals with actual or perceived cognitive disabilities, and others with decision-making limitations, including minors,” said Kohn. “It will also be a terrific boon to lawyers who represent them.”


Kohn predicts that the new ethics rule will be particularly helpful to individuals subject to guardianship or conservatorship.  As Kohn explained in a recent Forbes article, the revised provisions “clearly state that lawyers may ethically represent individuals subject to guardianship or conservatorship who wish to challenge or modify that arrangement”—something that courts have sometimes not appreciated. 

Other key aspects of the reformed rule include:

  • Modernized, less stigmatizing language
  • Removal of language that unintentionally encouraged lawyers to pursue guardianship over clients
  • Clearer direction on when attorneys can discuss confidential information about clients with disabilities
  • Detailed guidance for lawyers working with clients who have surrogate decision-makers
  • Specific guidance for attorneys working with minors
  • Specific guidance for attorneys working with criminal defendants whose capacity is at issue

More detailed information on these topics can be found in this article, co-written by Kohn and Charlie Sabatino, Aging and Law Consultant and Former Director of the ABA Commission on Law and Aging.


Kohn also wrote about the implications of the new ethics rule at Forbes.com.

Syracuse University to Unveil Portrait of President Biden

An oil portrait of alumnus and 46th U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. L’68, H’09 will go on permanent display in the College of Law’s Dineen Hall Law Library after a ceremony in April.

Syracuse University will unveil a portrait of alumnus and 46th U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. L’68, H’09 in Dineen Hall at the College of Law during a private ceremony with the former president on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.

The artwork, painted by distinguished American portrait artist Michael Shane Neal, is an oil-on-canvas portraiture completed in 2025-2026. The portrait was commissioned by Syracuse University to honor one of its most prominent alumni. Neal is one of America’s foremost portrait artists, whose works hang in the U.S. Capitol, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and the Pentagon, among other prominent institutions.

“Syracuse Law is proud to count a former president among our many outstanding alumni,” College of Law Dean Terence J. Lau L’98 says. “President Biden has never forgotten where his legal career began, and we have never forgotten him. His portrait in Dineen Hall will remind every student who passes through our doors that a Syracuse Law education doesn’t just open doors. It can change the course of history.”

Biden earned a juris doctor from the College of Law in 1968 and has maintained a close connection with the University ever since. He delivered the College of Law Commencement address on four occasions—in 1994, 2002, 2006, and 2016—and returned to campus in 2009 to deliver the University’s Commencement address and receive an honorary degree.

Biden received the University’s Chancellor’s Medal in 1974; the Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2003; and the George Arents Pioneer Medal, the University’s highest alumni award, in 2005. In 2018, he was honored with a prestigious Syracuse Law Honors Award from the Syracuse University Law Alumni Association and the College of Law.

The portrait will be on permanent display in the college’s Law Library Reading Room, where the public can view the painting during normal library hours.

OutLaw Hosts Pathways to the Bench Panel

OutLaw recently hosted the panel discussion “Pathways to the Bench; LGBTQ+ Judges on Identity, Advocacy, and the Judiciary.” The panel featured judges from across New York state who shared the stories behind their paths to the bench, the different routes taken to judicial service, and how identity and lived experiences can shape their work on the bench.

Participating judges were:

The Hon. Seth D. Eichenholtz L’02, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York 

The Hon. Staci Dennis-Taylor L’14, Syracuse City Court Judge

The Hon. Gary A. Wilson Jr., Buffalo City Court Judge

The Hon. David Fried, New York State Court of Claims Judge

Entertainment and Sports Law Symposium Culminates with Keynote Address from Michael Marino L’74, Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LL.P.

The annual Entertainment and Sports Law symposium brought together alumni, professors, and industry experts to discuss timely legal topics in the entertainment and sports industries in a day-long series of panels.

The keynote speaker was Michael Marino L’ 74, Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LL.P. Marino specializes in labor and union law and litigation. He has unique exposure to and experience in sports marketing and SAG-related matters, having represented celebrity athletes and actors in marketing and entertainment matters. He was joined by his son Mike Marino L’96, who serves as a Partner for the boutique firm Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP after spending much of his career overseeing Labor & Employment for Warner Brothers Studios.

Pictured from left to right Anthony Ruscitto L'27, Hannah Rice L'27, Mike Marino L’96, Michael Marino L’ 74, Matt Cohn L'28, Rebecca Lee L'27, and Beth Kubala In front of fireplace in Dineen Hall.
The Marinos visit with student members of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic and Executive Director, Office of Clinical Legal Education, Beth Kubala. Pictured from left to right Anthony Ruscitto L’27, Hannah Rice L’27, Mike Marino L’96, Michael Marino L’ 74, Matt Cohn L’28, Rebecca Lee L’27, and Beth Kubala.  

The panels were:

Inside the General Counsel’s Office

  • Brett Greenfield ’14, L’18, BeatBox
  • Liz Weeks L’13, Wizards of the Coast
  • Aya Hoffman G’18, L’18, Comcast

Legal Issues in Broadcast Media and Content Distribution

  •  Donya Feizbakhsh L’19, Roku
  • Shawna Benfield L’09, Walt Disney Company

Music Law in Practice: Licensing, Distribution, and Digital Media

  • Olivia Barton L’24, Epic Games
  • Bryan Davidson ‘12, L’15, iHeartMedia
  • Adam Weitz L’00, APM Music

Intellectual Property in Entertainment

  • Imani Deas L’21, Sony Music Entertainment
  • Jasmine Geyen L’24, Association of American Publishers

The Business of Representation: Agents, Managers, and Athlete Advocacy

  • Riley Christian L’16, Artifex Athleta, P.C.
  • Dallas Steele L’12, William Morris Endeavor
  • Payton Sorci L’22, LIFT Sports Management

Experts in Name, Image, and Likeness

  • Dan Greene L’16, Newman & Lickstein
  • Professor John Wolohan G’18, David B. Falk College of Sport and College of Law 
  • Professor David Meluni, David B. Falk College of Sport  
  • Julz Dunne, Brand strategist specializing in NIL and athlete marketing 
Pictured from left to right Adrienne Lutz, Michael Marino L’ 74, Dafni Kiritsis , Mike Marino L’96, Lily Hughes. Standing in front of Syracuse University flag.
The Marinos met with members of Advancement and the Career Services teams during their visit to Syracuse Law. Pictured from left to right Adrienne Lutz, Michael Marino L’ 74, Dafni Kiritsis , Mike Marino L’96, Lily Hughes.  

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.