Professor Jenny Breen discussed with Spectrum News the application of the Public Employees’ Fair Employment Act, or Taylor Law, in the ongoing litigation surrounding the state Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association strike from earlier this year.
“While the strike is understood to be the key economic weapon for private sector workers, the people who wrote the Taylor Law felt like strikes were not appropriate in the public sector. So public sector employees in New York state are banned from striking under the Taylor Law, and there are pretty harsh penalties for striking workers when they violate that prohibition,” says Breen.
In the days after the attacks of September 11, 2001, initial recovery at the Pentagon was supported by a mix of fire fighters, first responders, and military personnel. Among them was current Syracuse Law student Jared Hansbrough L’29, at the time a Marine Captain, who volunteered to join fellow Marines in casualty recovery efforts over the ensuing week.
On Sept. 13, the group recovered a Marine Corps flag that was standing in the wreckage, perched on the edge of a 4th floor office that had been split in half by the gaping hole left in the Pentagon. The flag had somehow survived the attack unscathed. The group returned the flag to the Marine Corps, where it would symbolically become a reminder of the events of that week. What began as a quiet act of service became a symbol of resilience and commitment to country — and a story that continues to inspire more than two decades later.
Jared Hansbrough L’29 pictured on the far right in a white hazmat suit, alongside the recovered flag. Photo from the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
The Hon. James E. Baker, Director of the Institute for Security Policy and Law and Professor at Syracuse Law and the Maxwell School, also knows that flag. It once stood behind the desk of his mentor and close friend, Peter Murphy, his son’s godfather and longtime Counsel to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. At 9:37 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, Peter was standing in front of it when Flight 77 struck the Pentagon. Though injured, he returned to work the next day, determined that the law was as present on Sept. 12 as it had been on Sept. 10 and Sept. 11.
The flag was subsequently carried to Afghanistan and into space on the shuttle Endeavor before being returned to Peter. Today, it is displayed at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, a lasting tribute to Peter’s service, the service of Marines, and most of all to the victims of 9/11.
Photo from the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
Judge Baker said, “Peter, who was from New York, would have loved knowing that Jared had found his way to the law and to Syracuse, or as he might have put it, that Jared had chosen to continue to support and defend the Constitution as a lawyer.”
After more than two decades of military service followed by public service at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Jared is now pursuing his law degree through the online hybrid JDinteractive program, preparing for a career in private practice. Today, we honor Jared’s story, and the courage, sacrifice, and service of all who responded in the wake of that tragic day.
The call for papers is now open for “The Americans with Disabilities Act and Universal Design: Global Legacy and Potential in Higher Ed” Symposium to be held by Syracuse University College of Law on April 10, 2026, in the Melanie Gray Courtroom in Syracuse, NY.
The symposium will examine the transformative global impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the evolution of universal design principles in higher education contexts worldwide. This symposium explores how the ADA’s foundational principles have transcended U.S. borders to influence international disability rights frameworks, accessibility standards, and inclusive design practices across diverse cultural and legal landscapes.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
• Comparative analysis of international disability rights legislation influenced by the ADA
• Universal design implementation in global higher education institutions
The role of artificial intelligence in universal design for learning in higher education
• The role of advocacy and activism in expanding universal design globally
• Cross-cultural perspectives on accessibility and inclusion in academic environments
• Technology and digital accessibility in international educational contexts
• Legal frameworks and policy development for disability rights worldwide
• Campus planning and architectural accessibility across different cultural contexts
• Intersectionality and disability rights in diverse global communities
• Challenges and opportunities in implementing universal design principles internationally
• Innovative solutions for advancing accessibility and equity in higher education
Submission Guidelines
We seek original research, case studies, theoretical frameworks, and innovative practices that contribute to understanding the global impact and future potential of ADA principles and universal design in higher education.
Abstract Requirements:
• Maximum 750 words
• Clearly articulated research question or practice area
• Methodology (if applicable)
• Key findings or arguments
• Significance to the symposium themes
• Author name(s), institutional affiliation(s), and contact information
Please indicate if you are interested in presenting, publishing, or both. We anticipate publishing around four papers in a forthcoming issue of The Journal of International Law and Commerce; one paper in The Journal of Global Rights and Organizations; and smaller abstracts may be published in a special feature on Impunity Watch News. Details on registration and schedule for the conference will be forthcoming.
Submissions are due October 23, 2025, 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time by email to Chris Ramsdell.
The Symposium is supported by:
Burton Blatt Institute
Center on Disability and Inclusion
D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF)
Disability Law and Policy Program
Disability Law Students Association
Impunity Watch News
Journal of Global Rights and Organizations
National Veterans Resource Center
Office of Veteran and Military Affairs
Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce
Syracuse University Center for Disability Resources
Syracuse University Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence
Professor Roy Gutterman L’00, Director, Tully Center for Free Speech; Professor, Newhouse School; Professor of Law, College of Law, had his Syracuse Law Review article “Actually . . . A Renewed Stand for The First Amendment Actual Malice Defense” Cited by the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Dershowitz v. CNN, Inc.
From page 15 of the decision, “Sullivan has ‘become part of the fabric of American law’ and been ‘woven into a long line of federal and state cases’.”
Gutterman’s article discusses the New York Times v. Sullivan constitutional, actual malice privilege in the modern context of the first Trump administration.
What law student wouldn’t jump at the chance to work alongside a barrister with King’s Council (KC) status, an honor bestowed upon only the most experienced lawyers in the U.K.? Or assist judges in the Crown Court system, one of three senior courts in England and Wales?
These are just some examples of recent experiences that students undertook as part of Syracuse University College of Law’s LondonEx program. The oldest and only program of its kind in the nation — celebrating its 46th year — LondonEx has been offering law students. both from Syracuse Law, as well as other ABA-accredited law schools in the U.S. and Canada, a summer externship program that is a truly transformational experience.
What Makes LondonEx Unique
While other law schools offer semesters abroad or other international programs, LondonEx is unique in that it offers a fully immersive seven-week program in London that allows students to participate in externships matched to their interests that allow them to work in a professional legal setting while refining skills and gaining an up-close look at another legal system and culture.
“We are exposing law students to the practice of law in a global setting. Working to match their interests with outstanding opportunities, students work alongside — often at workspaces only a few feet apart from barristers, solicitors and judges,” says Andrew Horsfall, study abroad specialist for Syracuse University. “The law students are always pleasantly surprised at what their mentors do for them, when they bring them along to court, put them to work on actual research, provide meaningful feedback, and give them the opportunity to return to law school with written work product and an expanded view of the profession.”
Program Structure
Working with Syracuse Abroad and its London Centre, Faraday House, law students arrive in mid-May to embark upon the seven-week, 5-credit program.
Week One: The first week is spent in an intensive orientation that acquaints students with the British legal system through a variety of guest lecturers and cultural activities. They are immediately thrown into “Legal London” to see the Inns of Court and the Royal courts of Justice, often on the first day, in order to build context on the differences between the U.K. and U.S. legal systems before starting their placement experiences.
Weeks Two-Seven: Externships are held four days a week for a six-week period with Fridays reserved for learning activities like skills training, networking, negotiation and gaining professional insights from those working in London’s legal system, including Syracuse University alumni.
Program Conclusion: The program concludes with students presenting on topics of their choosing around a comparative aspect of law or legal culture they engaged with at their placements.
While the pace is quick, there is still time to soak in the culture of one of the world’s most dynamic cities as students take in a show in the West End, view the architecture of the Palace of Westminster, enjoy fish and chips at an authentic British pub or get a birds eye view of the Thames on the London Eye.
“Our seven-week program goes by very quickly, but its quick pace also allows students to wrap up the experience by early July with time to take on a second externship back in the U.S.— which some do every summer,” says Horsfall.
Student Perspectives
This past summer, 14 students completed the LondonEx program — seven from Syracuse Law and seven from a mix of other law schools.
Syracuse Law student Eric Boutrous L’27 chose to attend the LondonEx program for the opportunity to gain hands-on legal experience outside the U.S. He was placed under the mentorship of barrister Mark Warwick KC at Selbourne Chambers in the heart of London’s Inns of Court, where he was able to work on a variety of complex real property and civil matters involving easements, boundary disputes and professional negligence.
“I helped prepare arguments regarding implementing easements and necessity and had the opportunity to contribute research that was used in a court filing,” says Boutrous. “Presenting my work to my peers in the program challenged me to synthesize complex materials and communicate clearly the skills I know will be invaluable in my legal career.”
Boutrous also participated in a mediation session under Warwick’s supervision. “It was fascinating to observe how the parties and their legal teams approached negotiation, particularly in a system where mediation is increasingly encouraged,” he explains, noting he hopes to go into transactional law with a long-term goal of international litigation and arbitration. “Seeing how strategic tone, timing and presentation impacted the discussion gave me a new appreciation for the role of advocacy outside the courtroom and deepened my interest in alternative dispute resolution.”
Gurneet Sidhu L’26, joined the LondonEx cohort from the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, after seeking out a program that would allow her to gain experience abroad that would align with her busy schedule.
“LondonEx was a perfect mix of school and work experience, and, honestly, I couldn’t find another program that was at all similar to the quality of what Syracuse Law was offering,” says Sidhu, who was especially interested in honing her legal research skills through transactional work.
Having traveled to London before, she was thrilled to have an externship right in the heart of the city at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) where she worked on various research topics.
“Working at BIICL was great for gaining a global perspective of the law,” she says. “I was involved in many international law matters, which allowed me a better understanding on the impact of international law on domestic law.”
Richard Everett Jr. L’26 joined the group from Creighton University School of Law. He was assigned to a judge at the Inner London Crown Court of His Majesty’s Crown Court, giving him an insightful comparison of how the American and British criminal legal systems differ.
His favorite part of the experience, however, was conferring over lunch with the judges on a daily basis.
“This hour provided me with unprecedented access to the Crown Court judges, giving me the opportunity to ask questions about the proceedings I observed on a given day and clarify any points of confusion I may have had.”
After completing law school, Everett, who is currently an ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve, will be joining the Navy’s Judge Advocate Generals (JAG) Corp.
“Syracuse’s LondonEx program has allowed me to observe how the criminal justice system of one of our allies functions,” he explains. “It’s crucial to be as diverse as possible in a global environment, especially when your job can take you anywhere in the world.”
A Lasting Impact
The experience of this year’s LondonEx program, as well as those over the past four decades, have left indelible impressions on the law students who have participated in this unique and up-close experience offered by Syracuse Law.
“London itself is a magnetic city full of history, culture and excitement, but that’s just the start of what our LondonEx students experience here as they enjoy unprecedented exposure to the people and places that truly represent a dynamic legal culture and system that is different from what they have been studying in law school,” says Horsfall. “Professionally, it can become a game changer for many students.”
For more information, visit Syracuse University College of Law’s LondonEx program on our website. The deadline for LondonEx Summer 2026 is Feb. 1.
Crandall Melving Professor of Law Shubha Ghosh spoke with The National News Desk on the remedy ruling in the Google antitrust case. The remedy was less severe than expected as Google could retain its Chrome browser.
“I think the government will appeal it, just to be complete about this and I think they might have some issues. I don’t know how much they’re going to push on the decision not to divest,” said Ghosh, Director of the Syracuse Intellectual Property Law Institute.
“These market power rulings are very market-specific, so there might be a completely different market issue in these subsequent cases,” Ghosh said. “That definitely affects what the remedies are in the case.”
At Law360, Ghosh said “In the tech space, courts are wary of undoing the benefits of the technology that has been developed over time.” This article may be behind a paywall.
Professor of Law Emeritus William C. Banks offers insights to NPR on the court ruling that found the Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act.
“The administration crossed various lines as Judge Breyer said in his decision to engage in direct law enforcement affecting civilians in the city of Los Angeles, as forbidden by the law known as Posse Comitatus. The law’s been around since the 1870s and establishes a bright line that we don’t want soldiers on our streets enforcing domestic laws,” said Banks.
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 Thursday, September 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Dineen Hall’s Levy Atrium.
The event is free and open to all Syracuse-area veterans, including Syracuse University students, faculty, and staff veterans who are not enrolled in VA health care and want to learn more about eligibility and how to sign up. Free parking is available in the Irving Garage.
Attendees can:
Learn how to enroll in VA Healthcare.
File a claim with VBA.
Explore veterans benefits.
Learn about PACT Act (Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxic Acts) updates
Engage with VA professionals.
Engage with Syracuse University’s veteran resources.
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 help guide attendees and facilitate interactions with partner organizations.
The event is sponsored by Bond, Schoeneck, and King PLLC.
Justice Lillian Wan recently visited Syracuse Law and addressed Prof. Mary Szto’s and Prof. Andrew Greenberg’s joint Contracts and Appellate Advocacy Skills class. Prof. Greenberg interviewed her about her career path and what appellate lawyers should focus on. She spoke about the importance of your reputation, which begins in law school, and always proofreading your work.
Justice Wan also participated in a fireside chat hosted by Syracuse Law’s Asian-Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA). Assistant Dean Lily Yan Hughes introduced Justice Wan, and APALSA President Rebecca Lee L’26 moderated the discussion with in-person and online participants, including students from Albany Law School.
At the fireside chat, Justice Wan shared stories on becoming the first Asian American woman to be appointed to the Appellate Division in New York State. “Justice Wan shared with us her struggle with identity during her childhood, and the obstacles she faced as an Asian American woman entering and working in the field of law,” reports Frank Ji L’27.
Ji continues, “Justice Wan highlighted stories of how those who came before her, the pioneers of diversity and female advocates who overcame struggles to achieve success in the legal system, supported and guided her to the position she is in today. Justice Wan’s stories were an inspiration to the students. She is an example of how people are willing to help, and… should help one another in the field of law. This… [allows]… for more voices that understand them and faces that look like them in communities across the nation and as judges,” reports Frank Ji L’27.
The fireside chat’s cosponsors included Syracuse Law Office of Career Services, SU AAPI Faculty & Staff Association, SU Asian/Asian American Studies Program, Maxwell Executive Education, Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) SU Student Chapter, SU Family Law Society, Asian American Bar Association of New York, New Americans Forum, and Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA) Syracuse Chapter.
The Honorable Margaret Garnett, Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, recently visited Syracuse Law to speak with students on the benefits of clerkships and as a guest speaker in Professor Lauryn Gouldin’s Criminal Reform Seminar about The Role of a Prosecutor.
The Honorable Margaret Garnett
Mya DeJoseph L’27, who attended the Criminal Reform Seminar, noted that “the fact that prosecutors are not able to take on every case that might come across their desk, and they have to pick and choose which cases to take. Several factors impact the cases that prosecutors will ultimately try, such as what cases law enforcement is bringing to you, what crimes law enforcement and other agencies really care about cracking down on, how a particular prosecutor’s office is organized and how its resources are allocated, and even individual prosecutors’ interests and relationships with agents to work on investigations with them.”
Bess Murad L’26 said, “A lot of the conversation was spent on her perspective on prosecutorial power and constraints. While acknowledging that prosecutors have enormous power over people’s lives and liberty, Judge Garnett emphasized that this power isn’t unchecked; prosecutors operate within a web of practical constraints, including limited resources, relationships with law enforcement agencies, judicial oversight, and organizational culture. This view challenged the common narrative of prosecutors having unlimited discretion.”
“I found Judge Garnett’s reflections about the humanity of the law profession to be powerful. I appreciated her emphasis on the humans at the heart of the law, both when speaking of her days as a prosecutor as well as her time as a judge, and the ways all of those human relationships impact the ways the law works, in good ways and in bad,” said Molly Smith L’27.
