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Faculty News

Spadoni’s New Scholarship Sheds Light on Racial Disparities in Dangerousness Hearings

UMass Law Adjunct Professor Joseph Spadoni’s new article published in the Suffolk Journal of Trial & Appellate Advocacy takes a hard look at how racial bias continues to shape pretrial detention decisions in Massachusetts.

Lisa Owens
Owens Speaks at a Statewide Housing Policy Symposium at the University of Maine School of Law

Professor Owens speaks at a statewide housing policy symposium hosted by the University of Maine School of Law to address Maine’s growing affordable housing crisis.

Chaudhry gives UK Book Talks at the University of London and Oxford University for South Asia, the British Empire, and the Rise of Classical Legal Thought

Professor Faisal Chaudhry gives book talks in the UK at the University of Oxford and the University of London.

UMass Law Faculty Development Committee Hosts Interdisciplinary Legal Studies Colloquium in Boston

The UMass Law Faculty Development Committee hosts the 7th UMass Interdisciplinary Legal Studies Colloquium at the UMass Club in Boston.

Brian Sirman
Sirman Moderates Conference Panel on Brutalist Architecture

UMass Law Visiting Professor Brian Sirman moderated a session at the Preserving the Recent Past 4 (“PRP4”) conference.

Anoo Vyas
Vyas Publishes in Tennessee Law Review on Why the Government Can Deepfake You

Vyas Publishes in Tennessee Law Review on Why the Government Can Deepfake You

Owens Invited to Boston College’s Prestigious Junior Faculty Roundtable

Professor Lisa Lucile Owens attended Boston College’s prestigious Junior Faculty Roundtable, where she presented her ongoing research on municipal housing reparations and strict scrutiny analysis.

Anoo Vyas
Vyas Publishes in Penn State Law Review on How Capping the House at 435 is Unconstitutional

Professor Vyas’ latest article argues that the law providing for a permanent cap on the House of Representatives is unconstitutional

Lisa Owens
Owens Presents Her Latest Work at the Northeastern Junior Scholars Conference

Professor Lisa Owens presented her latest work “Revisiting Gender in Places of Public Accommodation” at the Northeastern Junior Scholarship Conference.

Geoffrey McDonald
McDonald’s Newest Article Spotlights the Moral Duty to End Homelessness through Legal Advocacy and Policy Reform

UMass Law Professor Geoff McDonald proposes ways to mitigate homelessness through legal advocacy and policy reform and outlines the public’s ethical obligation to address homelessness in the context of contemporary moral philosophy.

UMass Law Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Shaun Spencer
Shaun Spencer named a Massachusetts Lawyer of the Year in 2024

Associate Dean’s legal advocacy shapes Massachusetts alimony law

Professors Hillary Farber and Anoo Vyas
Professors Farber and Vyas present at Law Symposium on Data, AI, and the Constitution at University of Pennsylvania Law School

Professors Farber and Vyas presented their latest article titled “Truth and Technology: Deepfakes in Custodial Interrogations” at the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law Symposium

UMass Law Professors Owens and Tabor Present at AALS

Professors Lisa Owens and Anna-Marie Tabor represented UMass Law at AALS.

Left to right: Incoming Assistant Professors Leo Yu, Akhi Johnson, and Sean Lyness
Three assistant professors join UMass Law faculty to Pursue Justice

Legal scholars bring expertise in civil rights, environmental law, and constitutional litigation

Erica Sylvia
Sylvia Brings Academic and Bar Success Experts Together to Tackle Pressing Issues in Legal Education

UMass Law hosts over 65 Academic and Bar Support faculty from across the country at the annual NECASP conference.

UMass Law Legal Skills Professors Presented at the New England Legal Writing Conference

Professors Byra, Davis, Moor, and Spencer presented at the New England Legal Writing Conference on program redesign for the NextGen Bar Exam.

Anna-Marie Tabor
Tabor publishes article on pension buy-out transactions

UMass Law Professor Anna-Marie Tabor advocates for accountability in pension buyout transactions in her recently published article, A Proposal to Enhance Participant Disclosures in Pension Annuity Buy-Outs.

Lisa Owens
Owens Publishes a New Article in the American Sociological Association’s Socius Journal

Professor Owens recently published a new article in a special issue of Socius that explores how surveillance works in highly surveilled environments.

UMass Law Celebrates Chaudhry’s Recently Published Book

The UMass Law community celebrates Professor Faisal Chaudhry’s recently published book South Asia, the British Empire, and the Rise of Classical Legal Thought: Towards a Historical Ontology of Law.

Katelyn Golsby
UMass Law Librarian Katelyn Golsby Writes About her Experience Developing and Teaching a Doctrinal Law Course

UMass Law Librarian and Alumna Katelyn Golsby wrote a magazine article about developing and teaching a cannabis business law course while working as a law librarian at Florida International University.

Geoffrey McDonald
McDonald Quoted with a Hopeful Outlook on the MA Affordable Homes Act

Professor Geoff McDonald was interviewed on his thoughts of the recently signed Affordable Homes Act.

Justine Dunlap
Dunlap Authors Chapter in Faculty Learning Community Book

Professor Justine Dunlap authors a chapter on her experience creating a contemplative pedagogy faculty learning community at UMass Dartmouth.

Margaret Drew
NAWL Podcast Discusses U.S. v. Rahimi with Professor Drew

The National Association of Woman Lawyers invited Professor Margaret Drew to participate in a discussion on the Supreme Court case, U.S. v. Rahimi on the NAWL podcast.

Geoffrey McDonald
McDonald Quoted in MassLive Article on Post-Foreclosure Evictions

Professor Geoff McDonald was interviewed by MassLive on post-foreclosure evictions.

Drew Speaks at Harvard Law’s Human Rights Workshop

Professor Drew spoke with Human Rights students from Ghana during a weeklong program held at Harvard Law School.

Professor Chaudhry Publishes New Book, South Asia, the British Empire, and the Rise of Classical Legal Thought: Towards a Historical Ontology of Law

UMass Law Professor Faisal Chaudhry investigates the legal history of colonial rule in South Asia from 1757 to the early twentieth century in his newly published book.

Anoo Vyas
Vyas Presents at Intellectual Property Workshop

Professor Vyas presented at a conference on AI as a use case for blockchain technology.

Sylvia Participates in Panel Discussion on Artificial Intelligence

UMass Law’s Erica Sylvia was invited to participate on a panel hosted by the Sturgis Library entitled: AI & You

Prof. Shaun Spencer
Spencer Secures “Win for Women” at Supreme Judicial Court

UMass Law Associate Dean Shaun Spencer secured a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision preserving an alimony award that reflected the pattern of savings that the parties followed during their marriage.

Owens and Tabor Represent UMass Law at Northeastern Conference

UMass Law professors Lisa Owens and AnnaMarie Tabor present at Northeastern University

New UMass Law faculty fall 2024
Contracts and criminal law professors to join UMass Law faculty in fall 2024

They will teach in the areas of consumer protection and criminal law and procedure

Geoffrey McDonald
McDonald Interviewed on the Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Case

Professor McDonald was interviewed on the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy case, which brings attention to the opioid epidemic.

UMass Law Adjunct Professor Judge George Phelan Reflects on a Busy 2023 and His Unlikely Path to the Judiciary

Judge George Phelan reflects on a busy 2023, while focusing on the year ahead.

Prof. Shaun Spencer
Spencer Argues at Supreme Judicial Court on Alimony Law

UMass Law’s Shaun Spencer argued before the Mass. Supreme Judicial Court that the state’s alimony law should allow alimony awards that maintain patterns of savings that the parties followed during their marriage.

Anna Marie Tabor
Tabor Testifies Before ERISA Advisory Council on Record Keeping in the Digital Age

Professor Anna-Marie Tabor tells the U.S. Department of Labor’s ERISA Advisory Council why retirees need stronger benefit protections.

Faisal Chaudhry, taken 3/1/23
Chaudhry Presents in Berlin on Real Estate Taxation

Professor Chaudhry presented his latest research on real estate taxation and affordable housing in Berlin.

Justine Dunlap
Dunlap joins the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission

UMass Law Professor Justine Dunlap joined the executive committee of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission.

Sylvia Discusses the Legal Ramifications of Using Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace

With conversational and generative AI systems like ChatGPT on the rise, Professor Sylvia gave a talk on the ramifications of using artificial intelligence in the professional sphere.

Lisa Owens
Owens Publishes a New Article in Special Issue of Frontiers in Sociology

Professor Owens recently published a new Article in a special issue of Frontiers in Sociology on Ethnography in the Open Science and Digital Age. The Article, Encountering Deception in Virtual Spaces: Guidelines for Virtual Ethnography, draws from an experience of deception in virtual fieldwork and considers implications for those designing methodologies for virtual ethnographies.

Lisa Owens
Owens Publishes “The Court of Student Excuses” in a Teaching Resources & Innovation Library

Professor Owens recently published a discussion-based activity she developed to help students learn more about the function and concepts of law and society. The exercise encourages students to build a new ‘court’ in the classroom which will adjudicate the excuses that students communicate to instructors.

Lisa Owens
Owens Serves as Judge in Harvard Law School’s Inaugural Mock Trial Tournament

Professor Owens was invited to serve as a judge in Harvard Law School’s inaugural mock trial tournament. The tournament brought together 24 mock trial teams from law schools across the country.

Geoffrey McDonald
McDonald Publishes on Bankruptcy Solutions to Homelessness in the Yale Law & Policy Review

Professor McDonald published an article on bankruptcy solutions to homelessness in the Yale Law and Policy Review.

Ralph Clifford, UMass Law faculty
Clifford Submits an Amicus Brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on Real Estate Tax Foreclosure Systems

Professor Ralph Clifford submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court that argues that real estate tax foreclosure systems are unconstitutional.

Owens Presents on Expert Housing Policy Panel

On an expert panel called “Good Intentions vs. Good Laws: Why Housing Advocacy Matters”, Professor Lisa Lucile Owens discussed the Housing Choice Voucher Program and its strengths and shortcomings.

Lisa Owens
Owens Leads Legal Workshop for New Bedford Entrepreneurs

Professor Owens led a workshop to help local New Bedford entrepreneurs with the legal challenges of starting a business.

Phelan Looks Back on an Accomplished 2022

UMass Law Adjunct faculty member Judge George Phelan looks back on an accomplished year.

Shaun Spencer examines a new era of law, technology, and privacy

UMass Law Associate Dean Shaun Spencer informs emerging debates over the appropriate regulation of privacy, technology, and information policy

Margaret Drew
Drew Participates in the ABA’s HIV/AIDS Impact Project Discussions

Professor Margaret Drew was invited to participate in a series of discussions hosted by the American Bar Association in honor of World Aids Day.

Prof. Shaun Spencer
Spencer Presents on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework

UMass Law’s Shaun Spencer presented on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the history of US surveillance regulation.

Drew Presents at X11 Conference on Teaching Externships Post-Covid

Professor Margaret Drew presented at Pepperdine Law School for the bi- annual Lextern National Conference.

Farber Speaks at International Workshop on Immigration Detention

Professor Hillary Farber presented her latest article at the International Workshop on Immigration Detention at the University of A Coruña, Spain.

Drew Attends the Bill Signing Ceremony that Ends Child Marriage in Massachusetts

Professor Margaret Drew attended the invitation-only ceremonial signing of a bill that eliminates child marriage in Massachusetts.

Michael Hasday
Hasday Presents at 33rd Stony Brook International Conference on Game Theory

Professor Hasday presented his article, “Randomly Selected Representative Committees,” at the 33rd Stony Brook International Conference on Game Theory.

Supreme Judicial Court Appoints Dunlap to the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission

UMass Law Professor Justine Dunlap was appointed to the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission by the SJC.

Drew and Rudko Join Expert Panel to Provide Answers on Overturning of Roe v. Wade

Professors Margaret Drew and Frances Rudko sat on an expert panel to take questions and provide answers to the south coast community on the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Scharf Receives Congratulatory Retirement Award from Connecticut Senator and UMass Law Alumnus

UMass Law alumnus Senator Dennis Bradley awarded Professor Scharf an Official Citation of Congratulations on retirement.

Prof. Shaun Spencer
Spencer Presents at International Symposium on Social Media Regulation and the First Amendment

UMass Law’s Shaun Spencer presented at an international symposium on social media regulation and the First Amendment.

Ralph Clifford, UMass Law faculty
Clifford and UMass Dartmouth Colleagues Publish an Article on Creative Variability in Computer Programming

UMass Law Professor Ralph Clifford co-published an article on computer programs as creative works.

Professor Hillary Farber
Farber Appointed to Governor’s Task Force on Law Enforcement Body-Worn Cameras

Professor Farber was selected as one of Governor Baker’s appointees to the law enforcement body-worn camera task force.

Librarians Wood and Peltz-Steele Publish Paper About Open Access Alternatives to the Traditional Casebook

UMass Law Librarians Wood and Peltz-Steele have co-authored an article explaining how to integrate low-cost, openly-licensed material into legal education.

Dunlap Named Faculty Fellow by UMass Dartmouth’s Office of Faculty Development

Professor Dunlap named Spring '22 Faculty Fellow by UMass Dartmouth’s Office of Faculty Development.

Ralph Clifford, UMass Law faculty
Clifford Quoted in Commonwealth Magazine on the Unconstitutionality of Tax Deeds

Professor Ralph Clifford was quoted in Commonwealth Magazine on municipalities foreclosing on homes with tax liens.

Julie Baker, UMass Law faculty
Baker Presents on “Moot Court: How to Coach Your Team to a Winning Competition Brief”

Professor Julie Baker presented “Moot Court: How to Coach Your Team to a Winning Competition Brief" on a panel identifying best practices for teaching brief-writing to competition students.

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly featuring Professor Dwight Duncan
Duncan Quoted by Mass. Lawyers Weekly on the U.S. Supreme Court Shadow Docket

Professor Dwight Duncan was featured in Mass. Lawyers Weekly to discuss the U.S. Supreme Court’s use of shadow dockets.

Margaret Drew, UMass Law faculty
Professor Drew Speaks on Human Rights at Home Clinic at Inter-American Clinical Conference

Professor Drew presented on a panel of human rights clinicians on how UMass Law’s Human Rights at Home Clinic focuses on human rights needs and violations within the United States.

Dunlap
Dunlap Article Warns That Mandatory Reporting Regulations May Harm Survivors of Sexual Assault

Professor Dunlap’s article details how a flawed approach to mandatory reporting under Title IX regulations can inhibit disclosure of sexual assault and in fact violate Title IX.

Margaret Drew, UMass Law faculty
Drew Featured on American Bar Foundation’s “MeToo” Podcast Exploring Violence Against Women in the Context of Title IX

Professor Margaret Drew was interviewed on the ABF’s podcast “Who’s Law is it Anyway?” on the topic of “MeToo” and its effect on violence against women in the context of Title IX.

Baker Co-Leads Advanced Appellate Advocacy Session at Stetson Law’s Educating Advocacy Teachers Conference

Professor Julie A. Baker joined William and Mary’s Professor Jennifer Franklin to lead a breakout session at Stetson Law’s national Educating Advocacy Teachers conference on techniques for teaching advanced appellate advocacy.

ERISA Preemption & State Single-Payer Health Care: Oregon Legislative Task Force on Universal Health Care
McCuskey Leads Session for Oregon Legislature’s Joint Task Force on Universal Health Care

Professor Elizabeth McCuskey led an information session for Oregon’s Legislators devoted to the issue of ERISA preemption for states pursuing single-payer and public-option programs.

Jeremiah Ho, UMass Law faculty
Professor Ho Quoted Regarding First Circuit Whole Foods Employment Suit

Professor Jeremiah Ho commented on Law 360 regarding a class action employment suit between Whole Foods and its employees currently on appeal with the First Circuit.

Elizabeth McCuskey
McCuskey Speaks to Legislators at NCOIL Conference on State Health Reform

Professor McCuskey presented at the annual NCOIL conference, highlighting the potential for state-level health care reform.

Prof. Shaun Spencer
Spencer and Volokh Discuss the First Amendment and Content Moderation on Social Media Platforms

UMass Law’s Shaun Spencer and UCLA Law’s Eugene Volokh discussed First Amendment issues raised by potential legislation limiting social media deplatforming.

Dustin Marlan
Marlan Publishes Article Opposing the Labeling of Individuals as “Consumers” in Trademark Law

Professor Marlan published an article condemning the usage of the word “consumer” as a label for the public in trademark law.

Ralph Clifford, UMass Law faculty
Clifford Quoted on Property Tax Law in Mass. Lawyers Weekly

Professor Ralph Clifford was quoted in Mass. Lawyers Weekly about the injustices of Property Tax law.

Prof. Shaun Spencer
Spencer Analyzes Potential First Amendment Challenges to Consumer Privacy Laws

UMass Law Associate Dean Shaun Spencer published an analysis on potential First Amendment challenges to consumer privacy laws

Dwight Duncan
Duncan Weighs in on Employment Law Case in Mass Lawyers Weekly

Professor Dwight Duncan was quoted by Mass. Lawyers Weekly on the DeWeese-Boyd v. Gordon College case.

Rice Discusses Supreme Court Justice’s Speech with Boston Globe

Professor Rice was quoted by the Boston Globe on Supreme Court Justice Alito’s keynote remarks to the Federalist Society Annual Convention. Professor Rice discussed the historical composition of the Court and the ethical implications and public perceptions of a justice making public comment on political issues.

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