News in Brief

 

Christine Gottlieb

A Clinic Victory for Parents

In a victory for a client represented by the Family Defense Clinic, a New York state appellate court ended a long-standing surveillance practice by New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). 

The agency routinely obtained supervision orders over a parent who had done nothing wrong in cases where the other parent was charged with wrongdoing. The Family Defense Clinic, taught by Professor ’97, worked with the Family Justice Law Center to develop statutory and constitutional arguments against the ACS surveillance. Then the clinic trained family law attorneys to identify cases that could be used to challenge the ACS practice. 

Represented by the clinic, the center, and pro bono counsel from Orrick, parent Sharneka W. appealed the supervision order against her. A four-judge appellate panel agreed that the family court had no authority to put Sharneka W. under ACS surveillance. Read more about this case.

Bryan Stevenson

Changemaker

, University Professor and Aronson Family Professor of Criminal Justice, was awarded the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Prize by the American Academy of Political and Social Science and the Stockholm Prize in Criminology by Sweden’s Ministry of Justice in recognition of his advocacy on behalf of the poor and the incarcerated as the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, a trailblazing legal defense organization. Read more about Stevenson's awards.

Joseph Weiler

International Scholar

, University Professor and Joseph Straus Professor of Law, received the Manley O. Hudson Medal from the American Society of International Law for outstanding scholarship on issues of European integration, globalization, and democracy, as well as law and religion. Read more about Weiler's award.

Most Cited

Six Law professors are among the top 100 legal scholars in the country, in a ranking compiled by researchers at George Mason University. The study selected the 100 most influential legal scholars of 2024 by assessing each professor’s total number of citations in law review articles published between 2018 and 2020. Law’s cohort included Professor Maggie Blackhawk; Cynthia Estlund, Crystal Eastman Professor of Law; Jeanne Fromer, Walter J. Derenberg Professor of Intellectual Property Law; Professor Daniel Hemel; Scott Hemphill, Moses H. Grossman Professor of Law; and Richard Revesz, dean emeritus and AnBryce Professor of Law. Institutionally, Law tied for second place with two other law schools for the most scholars on the list.

Policing Project

Traveler’s Aid

The Policing Project is representing entertainers Eric André and Clayton English in a racial discrimination suit against police in Clayton County, Georgia, filed after the two were stopped and searched at the Atlanta airport. Shown here: English (second from left) with Policing Project litigation director Aaron Scherzer; faculty director , Jacob D. Fuchsberg Professor of Law; and counsel Ben Hoynes ’22.

Franco Ferrari

Global Perspective

The Intesa Sanpaolo Center for Transnational Litigation, Arbitration, and Commercial Law celebrated a new name with a reception and dinner in March. European banking group Intesa Sanpaolo is a strong supporter of the center, which is led by faculty director , Clarence D. Ashley Professor of Law (pictured), and which advances the study and practice of international business transactions and the resolution of related disputes through litigation or arbitration. See more photos from the reception.

 Law Revue

Rat Race

Law Revue returned to the stage with Rata12(b)(2)ie. Parodying the story of Remy the Rat and human chef Alfredo Linguini in the animated film Ratatouille, the production starred Jeremy Venook ’26 as Remy, who’s determined to go to law school, and Charlie Driver ’26 as the hapless 1L Tort Ellini. 

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Law graduates clerked at the United States Court of Appeals during the 2024–25 term.

In 2024, Law alumni won five seats in the US House of Representatives:

Diana DeGette ’82

Diana DeGette ’82

Colorado’s 1st Congressional District

Laura Gillen ’00

Laura Gillen ’00

New York’s 4th Congressional District

Hakeem Jeffries ’97

Hakeem Jeffries ’97

New York’s 8th Congressional District. Jeffries also won reelection as House Democratic leader.

William Timmons IV MS ’21

William Timmons IV MS ’21

South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District

Bob Ferguson ’95

Bob Ferguson ’95

Former attorney general of Washington State, won election as governor of Washington State.

Traffic Control

Traffic Control

As chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, John “Janno” Lieber ’90 led the agency through implementation of a high-profile and controversial congestion pricing program in New York City. Despite multiple legal challenges, the vehicle toll plan became reality in January 2025. The MTA reports at least 60,000 fewer cars entering midtown and lower Manhattan each day

Timely Pardon

Timely Pardon

Ravidath “Ravi” Ragbir, a Trinidadian-American immigrant rights activist, fought against deportation for almost 20 years. On January 19, however, the threat of deportation was lifted after the Immigrant Rights Clinic—led by James Weldon Johnson Professor ’05 and Professor ’81—helped secure a pardon for Ragbir from then-President Joe Biden, clearing Ragbir’s record of a 2001 conviction for a nonviolent offense that had been the basis for repeated deportation attempts. Clinic students Djibril Branche ’26 and Mariel Gonzalez-Medellin ’26 assisted in securing the pardon for Ragbir. Read more about the case.

Mark Geistfeld

ALI Reporter

The American Law Institute named , Sheila Lubetsky Birnbaum Professor of Civil Litigation, to lead its new project focused on the civil liability risks associated with artificial intelligence. The project provides guidance on the legal implications of AI. Read more about the ALI project.

Claudia Angelos

Class Act

The Society of American Law Teachers honored Clinical Professor of Law with the 2025 Great Teacher Award for championing justice and diversity and for teaching excellence.

Broadway Photo

2025 Tony Winners

Best Musical Revival: Sunset Boulevard, produced by Craig Balsam ’86 and Law Trustee Alex Levy ’14 Best New Play: Purpose, produced by Law Trustee Marc Platt ’82. 

Posted September 9, 2025

2025 Law Magazine