CSU|Law Faculty Contribute to Ongoing Legal Conversations
Faculty at Cleveland State University College of Law continue to engage with timely legal and policy questions, offering analysis that reflects both scholarly depth and real-world perspective.
Through recent faculty commentary and reflections, CSU Law professors have explored a range of issues shaping today’s legal landscape—from constitutional interpretation and public policy debates to developments affecting the legal profession and legal education.
In Memoriam: Professor Emeritus Thomas D. Buckley
The Cleveland State University College of Law community mourns the passing of Professor Emeritus Thomas D. Buckley, a distinguished teacher, scholar, and civil liberties advocate who devoted more than four decades to the education of CSU Law students.
Professor Buckley joined the faculty of what was then the Cleveland‑Marshall College of Law in the early 1970s and taught for more than forty years before retiring as Professor Emeritus. During his long tenure he taught courses including constitutional law, commercial law, and creditors’ rights, earning the respect of generations of students for his intellectual rigor and deep commitment to the principles of justice and constitutional governance.
From the Deans' Suite - 3/3/26 - The Profession in the Building
When we talk about what makes CSU Law special, we always highlight our alumni and our deep connections to the practicing bar and the fact that lawyers don’t just support this school — they show up.
Last week offered a vivid slice of how the local legal community shows up for our students. Judges, alumni, legislators, and practicing attorneys were in our building — questioning, mentoring, advising, debating, coaching. Across multiple events, our students were not simply studying the law. They were receiving direct guidance from the lawyers who practice it every day. They were being questioned, coached, and pushed to improve.
Here’s what that looked like.
Moot Court Night: Appellate Advocacy on Display
From the Deans' Suite - 2/25/26 - Faculty & Staff Focus | February 2026: Scholarship, Leadership & Global Impact
We are very fortunate to have outstanding full-time, adjunct, and emeritus faculty, leaders-in-residence, and staff. We are pleased to share regular updates on their excellent scholarship, presentations, teaching, and service. This Faculty/Staff Focus is distributed widely to Law School students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the CSU community.
CSU Law Launches International Law Center, Expanding Global Leadership and Student Engagement
Cleveland State University College of Law formally launched the International Law Center in Summer 2025, marking a significant step forward in the College’s expanding leadership in global legal scholarship, teaching, and student engagement.
Under the direction of Milena Sterio, BakerHostetler Professor of Law and Center Director, the Center is quickly emerging as a dynamic hub for timely, real-world engagement with international and comparative legal issues.
The International Law Center reflects CSU Law’s longstanding strength in international legal scholarship while creating a formal structure to deepen programming, student opportunities, and global collaboration.
CSU Law Professor Milena Sterio Recognized Among Top 100 International Law Scholars
Cleveland State University Distinguished Professor of Law Milena Sterio was named to HeinOnline’s list of the Top 100 International Law Scholars, one of only two honorees in Ohio.
HeinOnline is a premier online research platform offering more than 244 million pages of fully searchable, image-based PDFs, including periodicals, government documents, international resources and case law.
From the Deans' Suite - 2/12/26 - From Cleveland Heights to the Olympic Stage
This week in From the Deans’ Suite, we step back and make space for a message from our emeritus colleague, Professor Ken Kowalski, who reminds us that sometimes the impact of our work in the law shows up in unexpected ways and sometimes many years later.
The U.S. Women's Hockey Team is having phenomenal success at the Winter Olympics, currently standing at #1 in Group A. That success is due in no small part to a player from Cleveland Heights, Laila Edwards, as detailed in the Plain Dealer.
Greater Cleveland and Cleveland Heights in particular can take pride in Ms. Edwards' accomplishments.
From the Deans' Suite - 2/3/26 - Opening Doors
There’s a particular kind of door you only notice once you’ve walked through it. When you turn around to look back and realize that you’re now the expert, the person other people rely on and look to as a role model. No one ever walks through these doors on their own. Someone (often more than one) was always on the other side, holding the handle, saying, “Come on in. Let me show you how this works.”
Mentors open those doors. They do it through a conversation over coffee; a candid story about a mistake made and a lesson kept; a resume marked up with honest red ink; an encouragement, delivered when things turn hard, that you, too, can find your place in this profession.
From the Deans' Suite - 1/29/26 - Rock & Roll Meets Moot Court
I usually use this space to reflect on the week just behind us. This week, I’m going to look back a little further—because something truly special deserves a second look.
Two weeks ago, CSU Law’s Moot Court Team hosted the inaugural Rock & Roll Moot Court Festival, the first and only moot court competition in the country devoted entirely to the music industry.
From the Deans' Suite - 1/21/26 - AI at CSU|Law
Over the last semester, we've heard a steady refrain from students, alumni, and employers: AI is showing up everywhere in legal work - so how do we make sure our graduates are ready to use it responsibly and well? That question has driven a wide-ranging effort since this summer to design and implement an AI strategy for CSU Law. Today we're pleased to share news about our first significant step that is already generating real momentum.
AltaClaro + CSU|LAW: Preparing Students for AI-Enabled Practice