News

Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law and the University of Bergen Faculty of Law Hosts National Security Scholars at First Transatlantic Alliance for Law, Outreach, and National Security Conference

The Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law (SPL) and the University of Bergen Faculty of Law recently hosted a group of national security scholars from 16 universities and 12 states at the first Transatlantic Alliance for Law, Outreach, and National Security (TALONS) Conference at the University of Bergen, Norway.

Scholars and officials from sixteen universities and institutions from the frontline states came together for the topic, “Best Practices in National Security Law: The Frontline State Perspective.” The conference included participants from Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, and the United States.

The Conference had four goals:

(1) establish an ongoing and lasting alliance of security scholars in the frontline states committed to teaching national security law;

(2) create an ongoing forum to exchange ideas about national security and teaching national security in the frontline states;

(3) give participants an opportunity to publish their work and reach a wider audience; and (4) identify best practices derived from experience to help all the frontline states to identify and address present and future security threats and do so consistent with our shared legal and democratic values.

Outcomes from the Conference were immediate:

•            The Eastern European Journal of Transnational Relations will publish articles on the conference and its key findings, and articles from conference participants on topics ranging from Russia’s efforts to subvert the Romanian presidential election, hybrid warfare, cybersecurity, and Russian and Chinese threats to the Arctic.

•            University of Bialystok Professor and JDi Distinguished Lecturer Charles Szymański, with the Hon. James E. Baker, Director of Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law, will edit as well as contribute to a treatise on National Security Law in the Frontline States.  

•            The University of Eastern Finland will host the Second Annual TALONS Conference on Best Practices in National Security Law in June 2026.

“The Conference was the culmination of several years’ work on furthering the field of national security law in the wake of the war in Ukraine,” says Baker. “The free exchange of ideas and recommendations that resulted from the Conference is critical to supporting the frontline states and, in the case of Ukraine, preparing for post-conflict resolution.”

Baker continues, “Law is both a democratic and national security value. At a time when law and security are threatened, recognizing and communicating these values is vital. Courage loves company. And as with any alliance – and this is an academic alliance based on shared values – one cannot overemphasize the importance of showing up.”

Professor Gregory Germain Discusses Birthright Citizenship Case

Professor Gregory Germain provided insight into the Blaze article on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Trump’s birthright citizenship case.

“I disagree with the 9th Circuit that the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause is clear on its face,” said Germain. “The clause on its face contains a limitation on birthright citizenship, requiring that the child be ‘subject to the jurisdiction’ of the U.S. Why was that language put in the Constitution if it was intended to be meaningless? So that language means something — the issue is what it means.”

Germain noted that the Supreme Court held in the case U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark that:

“Children born to permanent residents were subject to the jurisdiction of the United States even though the parents were citizens of China. But the Court also held that children of foreign soldiers occupying U.S. land or diplomats (or Indians) were not “subject to the jurisdiction” and not citizens. So the Court recognized that there were some exceptions to birthright citizenship, but did not clearly define them.”

Professor Katherine Macfarlane Contributes “Disability Documentation and Disability Discrimination” to Human Rights Magazine

Professor Katherine Macfarlane, Director of the College of Law’s Disability Law and Policy Program, has contributed the article “Disability Documentation and Disability Discrimination” to Human Rights Magazine, a publication of the American Bar Association’s Civil Rights and Social Justice Section.

The article examines how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has evolved to perpetuate the medical model of disability, rather than the social model of disability, regarding documentation of a disability to receive accommodations. The article features a personal experience Macfarlane encountered when requesting accommodation for a disability.

Macfarlane writes, “Documentation of disability can be so expensive that it is impossible for people with disabilities to obtain it. However, documentation requirements also impose costs on the employers — and colleges and universities — that create them. Someone must collect and review the documentation. Follow-up requests for additional documentation, which are common, are also time-consuming. The bureaucracy that has arisen around the documentation requirement is incredibly expensive. And for what? Is it truly necessary to have an employee on staff whose sole job is reviewing forms and records submitted by a person asking for an additional restroom break? What do we accomplish with bloated systems like these?

Not much, I argue. It’s time for the extra-statutory documentation requirements to be re-examined, if not abandoned outright. This sort of change can happen immediately. No law requires documentation.”

Macfarlane will participate in the ABA webinar “Disability Rights: A Conversation with Human Rights Magazine Authors.” The free webinar is scheduled for Friday, July 25, from 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET. Register at: https://www.americanbar.org/events-cle/mtg/web/452129295/?login

The article appears in the July 2025 issue on Disability Rights: The Work Continues.

Student Veteran Anthony Ruscitto ’22, G’23, L’27 Honored as a Tillman Scholar

“Now what am I supposed to do with my life?” Veterans often face this question as they transition from active duty to civilian life. The thought terrified U.S. Marine Corps veteran Anthony Ruscitto ’22, G’23, L’27 when he contemplated his future in the spring of 2019.

Today, Ruscitto is a two-time Syracuse graduate and a rising second-year law student in the College of Law.

3L Serves as Co-President of Disability Law Society, Aims for Career in National Security Law in D.C.

A 3L at Syracuse University College of Law, Kaitlin Sommer L’26 is always planning ahead. Throughout her life, she has continuously asked herself, “Is there a better or more efficient way to do this?”, “Am I advocating for what I need?”, “How can I figure this out by myself?” And, while this way of operating is a great skillset for any lawyer, Sommer has developed this method out of necessity and independence, as she navigates the world as a wheelchair user, as well as a child of Deaf adults (CODA).

Sommer attended Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) as a political science major for her undergraduate degree as part of a 3+3 program with Syracuse Law, which allows students to transfer from RIT to the Law School after three years to finish their bachelor’s degree and at the same time start studying law.

As she prepares for her last year at Syracuse Law, Sommer has taken full advantage of many of the opportunities that come from being a law student—attending the Ms. JD Fall 2024 Leadership Academy Intensive hosted by the Harvard Women’s Law Association at Harvard Law School, and presenting at her alma mater’s third annual Together RIT: A Day of Dialogue centered on the theme of Deaf culture, disability and neurodiversity in her first ever public speaking appearance.

In January, Sommer added another responsibility to her already busy schedule: co-president of the Disability Law Society (DLS) at Syracuse Law, a position she shares with Emely Recinos L’26. The organization serves as a community for students with disabilities and their allies at Syracuse Law, while also raising awareness and providing related information across the greater University.

“This is a new venture that I’m really excited about. We are a small group of students at Syracuse Law, and it’s important that we have our voices heard,” she says, noting that only about 1.4% of lawyers in the U.S. self-identify as having a disability according to the American Bar Association. “Emely, who also has a disability, and I have a new take, which revolves around being more vocal about disabled students’ experiences and how the University can best support us. I want the Disability Law Society to see where we can set permanent roots and have a noticeable space to make our voices heard. And, of course, having this kind of community at the Law School has helped me to know that I’m not alone.”

When Sommer started at Syracuse Law, it seemed to make sense that she go into disability law, but some great advice from Professor of Law Katherine Macfarlane, a leading expert on civil rights litigation, disability law, and civil procedure, gave her the freedom to consider other areas, as well.

“Professor Macfarlane said that just because I’m a person with a disability doesn’t mean I have to go into disability law,” Sommer explains. “She made me see that being a disabled person in any legal space is also representative, and my personal experience will make me a better professional no matter which field of law I choose. She has been such a good mentor and support system for me and has encouraged me to advocate for what I want and need.”

Now, Sommer is very interested in pursuing national security law, while possibly finding a way to intersect that with disability law, too. She has since taken courses through Syracuse Law’s National Security Program and is working on her Certificate of Advanced Study in National Security and Counterterrorism.

Her hope is to live and work in Washington, D.C., in the future. As an undergraduate, she interned for Congressman Joe Morelle (D-NY) in the nation’s capital. Sommer recently completed an intern at the POPVOX Foundation, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for improvements in Congress. And, this summer, she is interning with The Spinal Cord Injury Law Firm, PLLC, in Washington, D.C. Despite these impressive opportunities, she is eager to learn more through her coursework and seek out other experiences to prepare to graduate from Syracuse Law in 2026.

Kaitlin Sommer leafs through a book and looks at the pages, wearing a black dress

“Having a disability does make things harder, but, at the end of the day, I’m so grateful. My own life experiences, along with lessons from the Law School, like critical thinking, have really helped me see how important it is to assess facts to see if what seems to be true really is true. This has made me a more open-minded person and will make me a better lawyer, too,” she says.

“After all, I never want people to make assumptions about me just because I use a wheelchair. I hope to be a positive example of a compassionate and knowledgeable disabled lawyer who can better connect with my work through my life experiences, and Syracuse Law is helping me get there.”

College of Law’s Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic Receives New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Justice for Heroes Grant

Syracuse University College of Law’s Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC) has been awarded a Justice for Heroes grant by the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services. This competitive grant provides funding for the VLC to deliver high-demand legal services to veterans in Central New York. The College of Law is one of just five law schools in New York State selected for this honor.

“This grant will enable the VLC to build upon its 10-year track record of delivering exceptional level services and representation to the veteran community and their families,” said Professor Elizabeth Kubala, Director of the VLC. “This grant program demonstrates New York State’s dedication to improving the lives of veterans and their ongoing support of law school outreach programs.”

With this funding, the VLC will expand its legal support for local veterans and launch a new initiative to serve military-connected students, faculty, and staff at Syracuse University—a first-of-its-kind effort in higher education. The grant will also strengthen the College of Law’s capacity to provide legal representation in areas such as VA health and disability benefits, while simultaneously training the next generation of veteran-focused legal advocates.

“The Veterans Legal Clinic exemplifies our commitment to experiential learning, community service, and public interest law,” said Terence Lau, Dean of Syracuse University College of Law. “We are proud of the clinic’s impact and grateful to the Department of Veterans’ Services for supporting this important work.”

“Working in the VLC has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my law school journey,” said Raul Rosique L’27, a student attorney and Navy veteran. “This grant will help ensure more veterans get the legal support they deserve, while giving students like me the chance to serve those who’ve served our country.”

The Veterans Legal Clinic represents veterans and their families in claims for VA benefits and military discharge upgrades. Student attorneys, under faculty supervision, gain hands-on experience with real clients, navigating federal agencies, and honing their legal skills—all while learning the value of pro bono service and engaging directly with military culture.

Syracuse University Volunteer of the Year: Giving Back Strengthens our Alma Mater and Our Profession

What happens when the person who is usually giving out awards gets selected to receive one?

“It was a surprise. I don’t think of myself as a volunteer. Working with students and giving back is just what we do as attorneys. It was very kind of the Alumni Association and I am truly honored to be the recipient,” said Kim Wolf Price L’03.

Kim Wolf Price Headshot wearing a gray suit

Wolf Price received the 2025 Syracuse University Volunteer of the Year Award. The award is given in “the greatest expression of appreciation for alumni who have devoted themselves to long-term and consistent volunteerism and service to Syracuse University.” The Syracuse University Alumni Association and Office of Alumni Engagement presents the award annually.

Wolf Price frequently visits Dineen Hall as a guest speaker or panelist for Youth Law Day, Girls Rule the Law Day, Admitted Student Days, Orientation, and state and local bar association events.

In addition, Wolf Price often speaks with current Syracuse Law students and recent alums, hosts Syracuse University’s Pre-law Society for tours, and makes connections for other programs at Bond, Schoeneck, and King where she is the Chief Strategy Officer.

“We try to make connections at Bond with Syracuse University in many ways. Of course we are engaged at the law school, but we also have connections with Whitman, IVMF and other parts of campus as well,” she says. “The firm also hires a lot of College of Law graduates. But we don’t just work with the students we might hire. I get calls from students or young alums who have questions about their career path, want to network, and are seeking advice from me or someone else at the firm frequently.”

Being a volunteer with Syracuse University comes naturally to Wolf Price. “I am very lucky. I am the first in my family to get a bachelor’s degree (from Colgate University) and the first J.D. I got a full ride from Syracuse, and it opened entirely new career opportunities for me. I want to make sure I can pay that forward. It’s second nature to be involved in projects that affect the current law students and the undergrads,” says Wolf Price.

After graduating from Syracuse Law, Wolf Price and her husband Fred (who met on the first day of law school) ventured to New York City to start their legal careers. Later, they returned to Syracuse with Fred going to Bond as an attorney and Wolf Price landing at her alma mater in the Career Services department. She held several senior leadership roles, reaching Assistant Dean for Career Services, until returning to private practice at Bond in 2020.

One of her accomplishments at the College of Law was being the co-founder (along with Professor Lauryn Gouldin) of the Syracuse Civics Initiative. The Syracuse Civics Initiative develops community-facing civics education programming in partnership with other departments at the University, local judges and attorneys, and community organizations that support civics education.

Wolf Price has very simple advice for any alum looking to get involved with the University. “Every little bit matters. Even if it’s a mock interview with a student, you get just as much back as you have given. It strengthens our community, our institution and our profession,” she says.

“I realized how each of us can impact other people with small actions. If we take a few minutes to answer those questions that a student might have or take part in a panel discussion, speak in a class because you may have a certain knowledge base that’s helpful, you can make a big difference. It doesn’t take as much time as you think it does.”

During her comments at the Alumni Awards ceremony, she said, “This is an honor I am deeply grateful for it. I am not great at receiving awards, probably better at giving them but thank you very much I am deeply humbled.”

Professor Nina Kohn Discusses Oregon’s Proposed Long-Term Care Facility Law

Distinguished Professor Nina Kohn recently spoke with Law360 about a proposed law in Oregon to tighten the oversight of long-term care facilities. The proposal covers how residential care facilities, such as assisted living facilities and memory care units, are licensed and regulated.

Kohn said, “It’s refreshing to see a state like Oregon taking a hard look at what it can do to better protect residents of long-term care facilities that are not nursing homes.” The legislation “is a good example of how a state can try to leverage its licensure scheme to encourage safer, better care.”

Kohn noted that there’s “virtually no federal oversight” of assisted living facilities, and state regulations vary widely.

The gaps can leave older adults vulnerable. As many as 70% of assisted living residents have cognitive impairment, Kohn said.

“As a general matter, state oversight of what are typically termed ‘assisted living’ facilities is far more limited than that over ‘nursing homes,”‘ she told Law360. “And that means there is a lot less protection for residents of these facilities, even though they often have needs much like those of nursing home residents.”

The full article may be behind a paywall.

Professor Suzette Meléndez Honored with a 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award

Professor Suzette Meléndez, Director of the Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic, was honored with a 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award at their 45th Annual Freedom Fund Award Dinner. Meléndez received the Maye, McKinney & Melchor Freedom & Justice Award.

“It is an honor to receive the Maye, McKinney & Melchor Freedom & Justice Award. I feel connected to Hurclee Maye, Judge Langston McKinney, and Henry Melchor in their dedication to making legal services accessible to all people in the CNY community, and through the clinics I have led, hope to have built on their legacy,” says Meléndez. “It’s also very special that Maye and Judge McKinney are College of Law alums. I am especially grateful for the mentorship of the late Judge McKinney who guided and supported me in my work at the law school.”

Professor Nina Kohn Serves as Reporter for Two Uniform Acts

Syracuse University College of Law’s Distinguished Professor Nina Kohn is helping to create “gold standard” legislation on some of the most important issues facing older adults and individuals with cognitive disabilities.. Based on her legal expertise, including in the area of elder law, Kohn, the David M. Levy L’48 Professor of Law and newly named Distinguished Professor, has worked closely with the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) to create model legislation for the states.

Kohn has been selected not once, but twice, to serve as a reporter for the ULC. The first act she worked on with the ULC was the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act (UGCOPPA), which the ULC describes as a “comprehensive guardianship statute for the 21st century” that encourages person-centered guardianship reform, including promoting less restrictive alternatives to guardianship. The second act was the Uniform Health-Care Decision Act (UHCDA), a model law governing advance directives and healthcare decision-making for patients without surrogates.

Since joining the College of Law faculty in 2005, Kohn has been an active teacher and prolific scholar. Her research addresses a variety of legal topics associated with elder law, including age discrimination, family caregiving, elder abuse, and supported and surrogate decision making. She is also the author of the leading casebook on elder law. In addition, Kohn has taught on elder law, family law, trusts and estates, torts, and an interdisciplinary gerontology course. She has also served in a variety of public service roles for organizations such as the American Bar Association, the American Law Institute, and the Association of American Law Schools.

However, one of the highlights of her impressive career to date is being selected twice to be a reporter for the ULC, something she calls “the biggest compliment.”

“It’s hard to say ‘no’ when legislators are saying, ‘We’re interested in making our laws better. Can you help us?” she states. “It’s incredibly satisfying to be able to make a difference and see states improve their laws to make life better for families, patients, and health care providers.

“Being a reporter is part mediator and part editor, as you listen to and try to align the interests of diverse groups and commissioners,” says Kohn, noting that most states do not have the bandwidth to write this type of model law on their own. “Your function as a reporter is to enable a very deliberative, expert-informed, non-partisan approach that integrates various viewpoints and experiences into a model law that is as good as it can be.”

According to Kohn, the ULC model laws give states a solid, consistent starting point, which they may modify to suit their specific needs, budgets, or priorities. The details of the final laws are up to the individual state legislatures.

Kohn finds satisfaction in some recent successes in enacting the acts she has worked on. Consistent with the bipartisan nature of the acts, the UHCDA has been adopted into law in Delaware, a blue state, and Utah, a red state, in partisan efforts that will be beneficial to many. In addition, the UGCOPPA has been adopted in Maine, a blue state; the state of Washington, also a blue state; and Kansas, a red state.

She also believes that her expertise as a reporter has made her a better professor, as she is able to share with her students first-hand knowledge of cutting-edge legal debates and how the law is progressing on a state-by-state basis. Kohn reports that this work has also made her more sensitive about statutory drafting issues, and she has consequently spent more time in the classroom helping her students interpret, critique, and draft statutory language. She also says it has encouraged her to help students appreciate that even when people initially come at an issue from opposite viewpoints, there is often plenty of common ground to be discovered.

The work of a reporter can go on for years, but Kohn is prepared to stick with it in the hopes of seeing the two model laws enacted in as many states as possible.

“It’s hard to say ‘no’ when legislators are saying, ‘We’re interested in making our laws better. Can you help us?” she states. “It’s incredibly satisfying to be able to make a difference and see states improve their laws to make life better for families, patients, and health care providers. This process is an example of how we can work together in a partisan age, and it’s a source of pride to know that my work is helping to bridge differences and improve the law.”