Anita Allen recipient of 2023 Privacy Papers for Policymakers Award
CERL Affiliated Faculty Anita L. Allen, Henry R. Silverman Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, received a 2023 Privacy Papers for Policymakers (PPPM) Award for her article in the Yale Law Journal Forum entitled “Dismantling the ‘Black Opticon’: Privacy, Race, Equity, and Online Data-Protection Reform,” which assesses the vulnerabilities to […]
CERL experts discuss criminal justice at CAIL and Project Aletheia conference
Image: Atstock Productions – stock.adobe.com The Center for American and International Law (CAIL), Project Aletheia at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and American University Washington College of Law Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law held a conference Sept. 27 entitled “Bridging the Gap Between Science and Practice of Interrogation.” Leading academic, law enforcement, […]
A new role for NATO in conflict zones
CERL Affiliated Faculty Lynn Meskell recently returned from Brussels, where she presented on heritage conflict at UNESCO World Heritage sites and post-conflict reconstruction to NATO. One year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she urges NATO to operate with more local information and understanding as part of their longer-term humanitarian efforts. Penn Today features Prof. Meskell’s […]
Ian Fishback’s American Nightmare
United States Army Major Ian Fishback, a valued member of the CERL community and decorated soldier who reported systematic detainee abuse in Iraq, died tragically at an adult care facility in Bangor, Michigan after failing to receive adequate treatment from the Veterans Affairs health care system. This New York Times Magazine article, which includes reflections […]
Between the Lines features conversation with Mark Fallon
CERL Advisory Council member Mark Fallon joined Between the Lines to discuss his three-decade career in national security, his work leading the DOD al-Qaeda task force, and his book Unjustifiable Means. Mark Fallon spent over three decades as a national security professional, principally as a special agent with NCIS. He has conducted interrogations in the United […]
Opinion: Real Church Committee Advises Jim Jordan’s “New Church Committee” to Change Course
Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the newly established subcommittee on the “Weaponization of the Federal Government,” is conducting investigations that House Republicans claim are modeled after the 1975-76 Select Committee on Intelligence Activities. In a co-authored opinion, Dennis Aftergut, Norman Ornstein, and CERL Executive Board member Stuart Gerson discuss the letter issued on Feb. 15 […]
How congressional reforms will shape the military justice system
Over a year has passed since lawmakers reached a landmark agreement in Dec. 2021 to overhaul the military justice system and reform handling of sexual assault cases. CERL Advisory Council member Geoffrey Corn, a military legal expert, discussed with the The Texas Tribune–ProPublica investigative unit what these congressional changes entail and how they will shape […]
Claire Finkelstein advised on ethics plan for Philly mayoral hopeful Allan Domb
Philadelphia mayoral candidate Allan Domb released on Feb. 10 a plan to prevent conflicts of interest arising from his portfolio of real estate holdings in Center City. The plan includes selling his business and properties to an entity that would be owned by his son and other investors, if elected, and having an independent ethics […]
Chinese spy balloon was opportunity to gain intelligence
CERL Board Emeritus James Clapper joined Anderson Cooper on CNN to discuss the downing of a “high-altitude object” on Feb. 10. Director Clapper served from 2010 – 2017 as the Director of National Intelligence. He served in two administrations as the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, where he was the principal staff assistant and […]
U.S. was within its right to shoot down Chinese spy balloon, according to Mary Ellen O’Connell
On Feb 5., the United States shot down the Chinese surveillance balloon whose presence over U.S. airspace generated diplomatic tension between Washington and Beijing. CERL Advisory Council member Mary Ellen O’Connell told WSBT 22 the United States was within its right to shoot down the balloon despite claims from China that it had violated international […]
Opinion: Two cheers for democracy in America
Recent legislative and judicial actions may signal a return to rule of law values, according to CERL Executive Board member Stuart Gerson. Read why congressional passage of the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 (ECRA)— bipartisan election reform aimed at preventing another Jan. 6—and the Supreme Court’s likely rejection of a doctrine known as the […]
Critical to any F-16 deal with Turkey is support for NATO expansion, according to Gen. Votel
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Wednesday to discuss bilateral defense cooperation, including the sale of F-16 fighter jets. CERL Executive Board member General Joseph Votel wrote to VOA about the matter. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.) is President & Chief Executive Officer […]
Opinion: Trump’s tax returns show he was a bigger risk than we realized
On December 30, 2022, a House committee released six years of former President Trump’s tax returns. In his latest for MSNBC, CERL Advisory Council member Richard Painter discusses just how problematic the details about his foreign entanglements are for U.S. national security. Prof. Painter is the S. Walter Richey Professor of Corporate Law at the […]
Richard Painter weighs in on Republican promise to investigate Hunter Biden
After the midterm elections, Republicans doubled down on using their majority to investigate Biden and his family’s business dealings. CERL Advisory Council member Richard Painter told The Guardian the president should have recused himself from matters relating to Ukraine, yet Republicans are unlikely to find any instance of quid pro quo. Prof. Painter is the […]
Richard Painter discusses role of ethics within Congress, SCOTUS, and Executive branch
CERL Advisory Council member Richard Painter joins the host of Lawyer 2 Lawyer podcast, Craig Williams, to discuss government ethics in light of allegations against Rep. George Santos and recent pressure to investigate the role some members of Congress might have played in Jan. 6. Prof. Painter is the S. Walter Richey Professor of Corporate […]
Claire Finkelstein questions whether PA court is infringing on separation of powers in Krasner trial
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is scheduled to appear before the Pennsylvania Senate on January 18, 2023, for an impeachment trial. CERL Faculty Director Claire Finkelstein spoke with Axios about the questions that remain ahead of these proceedings now that the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has issued a ruling favoring Krasner. Claire Finkelstein is Algernon […]
Terrorizing civilians is a war crime, said Mary Ellen O’Connell of the situation in Ukraine
Vladimir Putin has launched a series of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in response to an Oct. 8 bridge bombing that damaged Russian supply lines. These attacks have left many Ukrainians without heat and electricity during the darkest and coldest period of the year. CERL Advisory Council member Mary Ellen O’Connell spoke […]
Rangita de Silva de Alwis led course focused on women and intersectionality in security
CERL Affiliated Faculty Rangita de Silva de Alwis taught a course entitled “Continuing Conflict: Old Challenges and New Debates” at Harvard Kennedy School. Students collaborated with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) non-permanent members and other ambassadors to the United Nations to examine two continuing conflict zones—Afghanistan and the Sahel region in Africa—looking specifically at the […]
Mark Fallon urges trust be restored between police and the public
CERL Advisory Council member Mark Fallon is quoted in an article for Time about why police should not be permitted to lie about evidence to suspects in an investigation. Mark Fallon spent over three decades as a national security professional, principally as a special agent with NCIS. He has conducted interrogations in the United States […]
Anita Allen featured in a profile for Diverse Issues in Higher Education
CERL Affiliated Faculty Anita Allen, an interdisciplinary thinker with a storied career in law, bioethics, and data protection, discusses her recent 2022 Bioethics Founders’ Award in a profile for Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Anita L. Allen is the Henry R. Silverman Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania. Read […]
Businesses have an “ethical responsibility” to solve the climate problem, Eric Orts explains
An article for Wharton Global Youth Program highlights CERL Affiliated Faculty Eric Ort’s latest research around the role that businesses can play in addressing climate-related issues. Eric W. Orts is the Guardsmark Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a professor in the Legal Studies and Business Ethics Department with […]
Iran’s protest movement is an “extraordinary departure,” said Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet
CERL Affiliated Faculty Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet is quoted in the article, “Iran’s months-long protest movement, explained,” published by Vox, explaining the roots of Iran’s protests and how the current economic and social landscape has shaped the movement. Prof. Kashani-Sabet is the Walter H. Annenberg Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania. Read her full bio here.
Dean Kumar named National Academy of Inventors Fellow
Vijay Kumar, Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and member of the CERL Advisory Council, has been named a National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellow. Considered the highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors, the program highlights academic inventors who have demonstrated a spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions […]
Mark Fallon joins WZ All Access to discuss the Méndez Principles
CERL Advisory Council member Mark Fallon sat down with Dave Thompson of WZ All Access to talk about the Méndez Principles and the future of investigative interviewing. Mark Fallon is a leading national security expert, expert witness, acclaimed author and is a co-founder/director of Project Aletheia at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Fallon was […]
Internet is not as free or secure as it once was, explained Director Clapper
On Thursday, CERL Executive Board Emeritus James Clapper discussed how to approach an increasingly fragmented global internet at the Fortinet Federal Security Transformation Summit at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City. He noted the importance of working with friends and allies on a consolidated vision of the internet, responding with targeted economic pressure on adversaries engaged […]
Stuart Gerson condemns Trump’s call for “termination” of the Constitution
CERL Executive Board member Stuart Gerson is among the signatories of a statement issued by Checks & Balances, a group of attorneys who would traditionally be considered conservative or libertarian, condemning former President Trump’s call to “terminate” the Constitution. Stuart Gerson is Member of the Firm at Epstein Becker Green, former Acting Attorney General of […]
Mainline medicine is “flawed” and “inefficient” when it comes to veteran care, wrote Brig Gen Xenakis
CERL Executive Board member Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Stephen N. Xenakis contributed to the opinion piece, “No wonder covid patients are frustrated,” published by the Washington Post. In it, he discusses the “flawed” and “inefficient” approach of mainline medicine. Brig. Gen. Xenakis is an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist with many years of clinical, academic, and […]
Iran World Cup players are under close watch according to Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet
CERL Affiliated Faculty Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet is quoted in the article, “‘From ‘Death to America’ to ‘Axis of Evil’: The historical context around heated winner-takes-all USA vs Iran World Cup match,” published by the Independent. Prof. Kashani-Sabet is the Walter H. Annenberg Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania. Read her full bio here.
Opinion: Georgia’s voter laws remain rife with issues
CERL Advisory Council member Richard Painter authored an opinion for MSNBC entitled “Georgia’s voter laws remain rife with issues.” Prof. Painter is the S. Walter Richey Professor of Corporate Law at the University of Minnesota and co-author of the book, American Nero: The History of the Destruction of the Rule of Law, and Why Trump […]