2015 2015: UMass Law professors to speak on hot button Supreme Court decisions

UMass Law faculty members will discuss three Supreme Court cases from the most recent term

UMass Law faculty members will discuss three Supreme Court cases from the most recent term this Thursday,September 17, 2015 at noon, at UMass Dartmouth’s Claire T. Carney Library Robert F. Stoico/FirstFed Charitable Foundation Grand Reading Room. The discussion takes place on Constitution Day, which commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. UMass Dartmouth Philosophy Associate Professor Phil Cox will moderate the discussion.

Professor Jeremiah Ho will discuss Obergefell v. Hodges case in which the Court held that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by under the 14^th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Professor  Ho joined the faculty at UMass Law in 2012. He received his B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and his J.D. from Whittier Law School. During law school, Professor Ho was the Executive Editor of the Whittier Law Review, where he was selected as the law review's 2008 Editor of the Year. In 2014, Professor Ho was selected as one of Lawyers of Color's 50 Law Professors Under 50.

Associate Professor Margaret Drew will offer insight on Elonis v. United States. The court reversed the conviction of Anthony Douglas Elonis in this case. Elonis posted threatening rap lyrics on social media. The case was groundbreaking for the Court to consider both the consideration of a “true threat” and the limits of free speech relative to communication on social media.

Associate Professor Drew teaches Advanced Externships and is Director of Clinics and Experiential Learning. Prior to entering academia full-time in 2005, Professor Drew practiced law in Massachusetts for twenty-five years. She represented clients in the District, Probate and Family and Appellate Courts of Massachusetts. Professor Drew’s practice focused on family, probate and residential real estate. She handled numerous appeals in family law and probate matters.

Associate Professor Hillary Farber will speak on the case of Ohio v. Clark in which the Court considered whether the 6th Amendment Confrontation Clause was violated when child abuse victims out of court statements were admitted into evidence. The Court held that the out of court statements were admissible.

Associate Professor Farber teaches criminal law, criminal procedure, and evidence. Her research focuses on criminal law and criminal procedure issues, with a particular focus on juveniles and issues of privacy. Professor Farber has published articles on topics such as juvenile interrogations, a parent-child testimonial privilege, and the privacy and regulatory issues implicated by the use of unmanned aircraft systems.

UMass Law, the only public law school in Massachusetts, was established in 2010 to provide a high quality, affordable legal education focused on creating justice-centered lawyers. UMass Law is especially committed to increasing the diversity of those who practice law in the Commonwealth and encouraging students to become professionally engaged in their community through clinics and internships while they study.