Today our College of Law community mourns the loss of Dean Emerita Hannah Arterian, who passed away on Friday, April 8. Dean Arterian served as dean of the College of Law from 2003 through 2016. Her leadership and influence, her impact on the lives of countless alumni, faculty and staff, and her many accomplishments as Dean, including the successful fundraising campaign that gave us Dineen Hall, will always be a part of our story. Memorial services will be held in Arizona, where she lived for the past 25 years, and in Syracuse.

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of College of Law Adjunct Professor and Syracuse defense lawyer Ed Menkin ’67, G’72, L’76. Menkin was an exceptional lawyer and extraordinary man whose contributions to Syracuse and the profession of law will endure.

We have been delighted to share the special exhibit of Professor Christian C. Day’s paintings in the Law Library. His collection, “STILL LIFE, STILL LAND,” will be on display through May 6. If you are in Syracuse, please come see Professor Day’s oil paintings of Central New York scenes, seascapes, flora, and still lifes.

For the first time since 2019, the College hosted in-person Admitted Student Days on March 24 and 25. Otto the Orange opened the program, which included a mock class by Professor Lauryn Gouldin, a panel led by Director of Student Affairs Sarah Collins and Assistant Dean of Career Services Lily Yan Hughes, and a panel with current 2Ls Roland Lucas and Abigail Gorzlancyk.

I was honored to provide opening remarks at Syracuse Law Review’s Volume 72 Banquet on April 7. Congratulations to special guest and honoree John G. Powers L’96, who also served as the evening’s keynote speaker. I’m proud of this year’s Law Review Editorial Team for Volume 72 and this year’s two symposiums.

Remember to save the date for Law Alumni Weekend, which is set for September 22-24, 2022! Among other things, I look forward to hearing from the Hon. Michael J. Garcia, Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals of New York who will serve as keynote speaker for our popular Lunch with the Judiciary program.

If you’d like to participate in a program or event, be a Class Agent, or nominate an honoree for our Law Honors or Alumni of Color awards, please contact Kristen Duggleby, Director of Alumni Relations. I hope to see you in September!

Many thanks to William J. Brodsky L’68, recent Presidential nominee to the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, who returned to Dineen Hall on April 7 to speak with students about his distinguished career on Wall Street and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. If you’d like to speak to a group of students about your career, please contact Kristen Duggleby, Director of Alumni Relations, at klduggle@syr.edu.

In another career development program, Stephanie Martin-Thom L’18, Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office; Staci Dennis-Taylor L’14, Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office; Emilee Lawson Hatch L’08, Bousquet Holstein; Jane Zhang L’10, Pyramid Management Group; and Colleen Gibbons L’17, Center for Court Innovation, participated in the Women’s Law Student Association’s March 25 networking session and lunch in honor of Women’s History Month, in partnership with the Central New York Women’s Bar Association.

Congratulations to Board of Advisors member Kamesh Nagarajan L’96 on his promotion to Managing Director, Private Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley.

The 44th Annual Lionel O. Grossman Trial Competition winners have been declared! Congratulations to 3Ls Morgan Steele and Jackson Somes. They prevailed over finalists 2L Giovanni Antonucci and LL.M. student Dessi-Ann Yetman. Somes also received the Best Advocate award. Many thanks to the Hon. Glenn T. Suddaby L’85, Chief U.S. District Court Judge, Northern District of New York, for serving as the presiding judge of the final round. Thanks also to evaluators the Hon. Bernadette Romano Clark L’89, Oneida County Supreme Court Judge and the Hon. Rodney Thompson L’93, Presiding Judge, Family Division, Superior Court of New Jersey.

This spring’s Entertainment and Sports Law Negotiation Competition was won by 3Ls Robert Rose and Bradley Ace, who prevailed over 2Ls Meghan Ellsworth and Jessica Johnson in the final round. Rose won Best Advocate.

The Black Law Student Association (BLSA) Mock Trial Team advanced to the national round of the Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition finals for the third year in a row. Congratulations to the team: 3Ls Abigail Neuviller, Alexis Eka, Randi Gray, and 2Ls Autumn Burgin and Kendall Anderson. Burgin won the Best Cross Examination award and Neuviller won the Best Direct Examination award. Thanks to John Boyd L’16 for coaching our team!

The inaugural National Disability Law Appellate Competition made its debut March 25-27. Co-sponsored by the College of Law’s Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society and the National Disabled Law Students Association, the competition problem covered a significant and timely legal issue in disability law regarding accepted use of service animals. Congratulations to the College of Law team consisting of 2Ls Sarah Bucker, Marquez Baez, and Jessica Senzer for winning second place!

Our 3L students gathered on March 25 for a Class Act! social event, complete with food, beverages, and games! Class Act! is a Syracuse University tradition that encourages graduating students to launch their philanthropic journeys in support of their alma mater with a gift in the amount of their graduation year—($20.22). I’m proud of the College’s Class of 2022 for carrying on this tradition, and I am grateful for our students’ philanthropy.

“Does Law Matter?” On April 5, the Institute for Security Policy and Law (SPL) and SPL Director Judge James E. Baker hosted an important conversation about the invasion of Ukraine, war crimes, and the law of armed conflict. Professor Laurie Hobart moderated the discussion with Judge Baker.