Syracuse University College of Law

Professor Nina Kohn Comments on the ABA and State Bars Encouraging Alternatives to Guardianship

Distinguished Professor of Law Nina Kohn spoke with Bloomberg Law for the article “ABA, State Bars Urging Attorneys to Pivot From Guardianships.” State Bars are beginning to adopt the ABA’s new Model Rule of Professional Conduct (MRPC) 1.14, which addresses how lawyers work with clients with decision-making limitations.

Kohn noted the key is to provide lawyers with the guidance they need so they’re not encouraged to pursue guardianship, a “very drastic” approach to protective action in such cases.

Kohn has helped lead a successful effort to reform ABA’s Model Rule of Professional Conduct (MRPC) 1.14.

ABA, State Bars Urging Attorneys to Pivot From Guardianships Several states are weighing an ABA-led push to encourage attorneys handling intellectually disabled and elderly clients to consider alternatives to legal guardianships.

George Haywood L’27 was selected as the recipient of the 2026 Carol Blanck ’70 and Robert Tannenhauser ‘66 Communication and Media Law Student Research Paper Award. The prize is awarded to a law student who demonstrates excellence in the law and journalism.

Haywood’s paper, "Eat It, Then Beat It: How Major League Eating Has Avoided Liability in an Inherently Dangerous and Highly Publicized Sport”, was selected by Professor Roy Gutterman L’00 for the award.

Synopsis:
The paper explores the robust free speech protections in the United States within the context of media and mass communication, using professional sports and entertainment leagues as a lens for analysis. With a particular focus on Major League Eating, an organization that generates upwards of one billion annual impressions, the paper examines why broadcasters have rarely faced legal liability when viewers are injured attempting to replicate conduct seen on television.

Courts have consistently declined to hold broadcasters responsible for so-called "copycat" injuries, a pattern grounded in First Amendment protections for depictions of conduct. Major League Eating exemplifies how American media law creates space for compelling, boundary-pushing entertainment to reach mass audiences without the chilling effect of broadcaster liability. The research analyzes both the constitutional and policy rationales that support this framework, arguing that these protections reflect a deliberate and principled commitment to free expression. This commitment allows organizations like Major League Eating to thrive and connect with fans across the country and the world.

University Professor Peter Blanck established the award in honor of Carol Blanck ’70 and Robert Tannenhauser ’66, with the award program administered by Gutterman. With the growing need for well-qualified communication law and policy professionals, this award supports law students who write or deliver original research regarding any topic related to mass communication and society by demonstrating excellence in law and journalism.

Professor Robin Paul Malloy Publishes Mastering Land Use and Zoning Textbook

E. I. White Chair and Distinguished Professor of Law Robin Paul Malloy has published “Mastering Land Use and Zoning” textbook with Carolina Academic Press.

According to the publisher, the book “Mastering Land Use and Zoning provides a readily accessible and concise discussion of land use and zoning. It is written for a broad audience and includes clear explanations and multiple examples that will equip the reader with the knowledge to understand all the basic concepts and issues in land regulation. It will also assist the reader in formulating robust questions and prompts for doing more detailed research and analysis, including the use of AI research engines to explore specific topics more deeply.”

Malloy is a leading expert on property, real estate transactions, land use law and zoning, and on law, markets, and marketization, and has published extensively on these subjects. He has pioneered work on land use and disability law. He is also recognized as a leading legal scholar on the jurisprudence of Adam Smith.

Robin Paul Malloy E.I. White Chair and Distinguished Professor of LawSenior Fellow, Burton Blatt Institute for Disability Law and PolicyKauffman Professor of Entrepreneurship ...

Professor Elizabeth Kubala Receives 2026 Syracuse University Chancellor’s Citation Award for Excellence

Professor Elizabeth Kubala, Director of the Office of Clinical Legal Education and Director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic at Syracuse University College of Law, was recently honored with the 2026 Chancellor’s Citation Award for Excellence in the category of Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience and University Initiatives. The award recognizes Syracuse University faculty whose work has significantly enhanced the student experience and advanced the University’s mission and goals.

In announcing the honor, Chancellor Kent Syverud recognized Kubala as a “transformative leader” who has built the College of Law’s Veterans Legal Clinic into a nationally recognized model of clinical legal education. The award also recognized the clinic’s substantial impact on both the veterans it serves and the students who participate in its mission, as well as Kubala’s mentorship of aspiring attorneys and success in securing grant funding to support the clinic’s growth.

Her work has expanded opportunities for students to engage in hands-on legal advocacy while serving veterans, military-connected individuals, and underserved populations throughout Central New York. Through the Veterans Legal Clinic, students provide legal assistance in areas including VA benefits, military administrative matters, housing instability, and outreach to homeless veterans in partnership with the Syracuse VA Medical Center Healthcare for Homeless Veterans program.

Read more here: https://law.syracuse.edu/news/professor-elizabeth-kubala-receives-2026-syracuse-university-chancellors-citation-award-for-excellence/

Summer Veterans Legal Clinic Student Attorneys Sworn In by U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Judge Grant Jaquith

Syracuse University College of Law recently held a virtual swearing-in ceremony for 13 Summer 2026 JDinteractive (JDi) student attorneys in the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic. The Honorable Grant Jaquith, judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, administered the oath.

Professor Beth Kubala, director of the Veterans Legal Clinic and executive director of Clinical Legal Education, welcomed the students and guests, noting the College of Law’s strong commitment to experiential education. Through the College’s seven in-house clinics, students learn to apply doctrinal law while representing real clients under the supervision of faculty mentors.

The Veterans Legal Clinic provides free legal representation to veterans and their families seeking benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or pursuing discharge upgrades through the military services. During the summer clinic, student attorneys gain practical experience in client representation, case management, advocacy, administrative practice, and military and veterans law.

Associate Dean for Academic Programs Shannon Gardner also addressed the students, describing the Veterans Legal Clinic as a pillar of the College of Law’s clinical offerings and a reflection of Syracuse University’s longstanding commitment to veterans and military-connected communities. She emphasized that the clinic gives JDi students a meaningful opportunity to practice law remotely while making a direct difference in the lives of veterans and their families.

Judge Jaquith’s remarks connected the students’ work to the broader national obligation to care for those who have served. He described veterans benefits advocacy as helping veterans in “battles without bullets” and reminded students that they may serve as a veteran’s “prayer for justice.” Drawing on his experience as a federal judge, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York, and retired Army JAG officer, Judge Jaquith stressed that careful preparation, professionalism, punctuality, and diligent advocacy are essential to effective lawyering.

He also discussed the importance of early legal assistance in veterans benefits cases, explaining that a strong record can help veterans avoid years of delay in the VA system. He encouraged the student attorneys to approach their work with seriousness and purpose, noting that veterans law continues to develop and that advocates have the opportunity to shape the law for years to come.

“The veterans that you help will be looking for you to help take care of them, to bring to bear the foremost foundational principle of our nation—the rule of law—so systems set up to secure justice for them and their families work as prescribed,” Judge Jaquith told the students. “It’s hard to imagine a more important role, a weightier responsibility, or a better opportunity.”

Following his remarks, Judge Jaquith administered the oath. The student attorneys pledged to act in their clients’ best interests, work diligently to protect their clients’ rights, present facts and law zealously but truthfully, remain courteous and civil in their professional dealings, maintain loyalty to their clients, and abide by the New York State Rules of Professional Conduct.

After the oath, Kubala congratulated the students as they began their work as members of the next generation of veterans advocates.

“Each of you is directly impacting the way our country treats its veterans,” Kubala said. “The way we take care of our veterans directly impacts our nation’s ability to sustain an all-volunteer force. Thank you for raising your right hand tonight to do your part in ensuring that our veterans receive the benefits they have earned.”

Student attorney Daniel Kenneally L’28 said the ceremony was especially meaningful given his own family’s military service and his decision to attend Syracuse Law.

“As a third-generation veteran, the mission and advocacy of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, and its dedicated staff, were the driving forces behind my decision to attend Syracuse University College of Law,” Kenneally said. “Our swearing-in ceremony marks a pivotal milestone in our legal education—the precise juncture where student practitioners are entrusted to advance this vital mission. Allowing students to serve veterans, as a meaningful repayment for their sacrifices, fully operationalizes Syracuse’s institutional commitment to being the premier veteran-friendly university.”

Professor Shubha Ghosh Weighs in on a Possible Appeal by Elon Musk in the OpenAI – Sam Altman Decision

Crandall Melvin Professor of Law Shubha Ghosh spoke with Bloomberg Law on a possible appeal by Elon Musk after the jury decision in the Elon Musk v. Sam Altman trial. The jury found that the statute of limitations expired before Musk filed the suit and did not wade into the merits of Musk’s claims.

“We haven’t reached those substantive issues yet,” said Ghosh. “And it’s not quite clear whether we ever will get to see them.”

Musk v. Altman Fight Heads to Appeal With Core Claims Untested A jury quickly sided with OpenAI on the threshold question that Elon Musk filed too late, and the judge adopted that view—sending the case to appeal without resolving Musk’s underlying claims about OpenAI’s shift to a for-profit model.

“He Took Too Long” - Professor Shubha Ghosh on a Potential Appeal in the OpenAI Ruling Against Elon Musk

Crandall Melvin Professor of Law Shubha Ghosh discussed the possible outcome of an appeal by Elon Musk in the lawsuit against OpenAI and co-founder Sam Altman.

At the trial, the jury sided with OpenAI, agreeing that the statute of limitations had passed and Musk knew about the actions that OpenAI and Altman had taken to create a for-profit entity well before he filed this lawsuit in 2024.

“It’s a very rare circumstance that those can be appealed because it’s usually a clear rule,” he said. “What the jury found is that he took too long.”

Jury Rejects Musk’s Claims Against OpenAI The jury found he brought his lawsuit after the statute of limitations expired.

Seth M. Owens from the College of Law Named 2026 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program Scholar

Joins a network of 37 leaders serving our nation’s veterans

Seth M. Owens, attorney at the College of Law’s Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, has been named to participate in the 2026 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program. Stand-To targets dynamic leaders, including civilians, veterans, and active military members, from various sectors nationwide who are dedicated to supporting our nation's veterans and their families.

The 37 scholars hail from across the country and will gather at the George W. Bush Presidential Center next month for the opening session. Over the course of the five modules, scholars will hear from a variety of distinguished professionals, educators, and experts in veteran transition and leadership development, including Major General Jeannie M. Leavitt; and Alex Gorsky, U.S. Army veteran, April and Jay Graham Fellow at the George W. Bush Institute, and former Chairman and CEO of Johnson and Johnson; among others.

Seth M. Owens, J.D., D.P.T., is an attorney and advocacy fellow with the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic at the Syracuse University College of Law, where he focuses on veterans health and disability law, federal appellate litigation, and legal services for veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. A former physical therapist and healthcare manager, Owens brings a multidisciplinary approach to veterans advocacy that integrates legal, medical, and policy perspectives. His scholarship centers on veterans’ access to benefits and the systemic barriers faced by former service members with less-than-honorable discharges, including published and forthcoming work in the Syracuse Law Review. Owens has also co-authored amicus briefs before the United States Supreme Court and regularly contributes to national conversations on veterans law, discharge characterization, and access to care.

“I am so incredibly honored to be selected for this cohort of the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program, and have the opportunity to bring back lessons learned to the College of Law and the community of veterans we serve,” Owens says.

Each participant brings a personal leadership project to the program, enabling them to immediately apply what they learn to making a positive impact on veterans and military families across the United States.

During the five-month program, Seth will develop his initiative focused on correlating improvement in well-being and housing status for homeless veterans with the delivery of legal services focused on accessing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and services. He hopes to show that the delivery of these legal services can be a primary intervention to combat homelessness in the veteran population—an intervention that could be adopted on a much larger scale by the VA.

Scholars were carefully chosen following a comprehensive application and review process. They become part of a dynamic network comprising over 250 alumni from seven earlier classes, focused on enhancing veteran outcomes across a range of issues. Many alumni occupy leadership positions in business, community initiatives, nonprofits that aid veterans, government, and academia; numerous members are also active or reserve military personnel.

The program is one of many ways the Bush Institute supports our country’s veterans and military families and builds on the organization’s extensive policy work in veteran transition.

To learn more about the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program, please visit bushcenter.org/veteranleadership.

About the George W. Bush Institute
The George W. Bush Institute is a solution-oriented nonpartisan policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies. Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the Bush Institute is rooted in compassionate conservative values and committed to creating positive, meaningful, and lasting change at home and abroad. We utilize our unique platform and convening power to advance solutions to national and global issues of the day. Learn more at www.bushcenter.org.

Professor of Law Paula Johnson contributed the opinion article “Supreme Court’s voting rights decision silences Black voters” to Syracuse.com in response to the recent Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais.

In the article, Johnson provides a historical review of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, its impact on the civil rights of Black voters, and how the ruling will affect minority voting going forward.

She concludes that, “while it is not fully extinguished, this democratic promise is now dimming under the Supreme Court’s latest ruling on the VRA. This is one of the most consequential decisions by the modern Supreme Court, for as Ashley Shelton, founder and CEO of the Power Coalition, a Louisiana statewide civic engagement organization, asks, ‘What is citizenship without representation?’ This is a question, a calling and a challenge, not just for Black voters, but for everyone who genuinely believes in the right of fair representation in a democratic society. We must vote like our democracy depends on it, because it does.”

https://www.syracuse.com/opinion/2026/05/supreme-courts-voting-rights-decision-silences-black-voters-guest-opinion-by-paula-c-johnson.html

To wrap up awards week at Syracuse Law, we are proud to launch the inaugural Emerging Leader of the Year, a new recognition honoring a graduate within ten years of their degree who has already made a meaningful impact on their community, their profession, and the Syracuse Law family. 🍊 ⚖️

We are proud to celebrate Colleen Gibbons L'17 as our 2026 Emerging Leader of the Year: a bold, dedicated leader who proves that the Syracuse Law legacy is built not someday, but right now.

She has led with purpose across law, academia, and social justice — serving as President of the CNY Women’s Bar Association, an Associate Law Clerk in the New York State Unified Court System, and an unfailingly generous mentor and volunteer for current students.

Read Collen’s story: https://bit.ly/4uLtDHd