Professor Ronald J. Colombo joined several other securities law professors in signing an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case Morrison v National Australia Bank Ltd (filed Feb 26, 2010).

Professor Colombo and the amici argue that the jurisdictional reach of the primary antifraud provision of the 1934 Securities Exchange Act (Section 10(b)) does not extend to persons who purchase or sell securities outside the United States. The amici argue that both original intent and policy reasons support this more narrow reading of Section 10's jurisdictional scope.

In 2008, New York City's Rent Guidelines Board allowed landlords of rent-subsidized apartments to raise rents by 4.5 percent for one-year leases, and 8.5 percent for two-year leases. Last week, Justice Emily Jane Goodman of State Supreme Court in Manhattan, ruled in favor of City Council and advocates for New York’s lower-paying tenants, ruling that the rent increase was a "poor tax". Should the ruling stand — the city plans to appeal it — some 300,000 rent-stabilized tenants could receive rebates and small reductions in their rent.

Professor Stefan Krieger reports that “the ruling in that case was based directly on a Second Department decision in a Law Reform Advocacy Clinic case, NY Tenants & Neighbors Coalition v. Nassau County Rent Guidelines Board, 53 A.D.3d 550; 861 N.Y.S.2d 766 (2d Dept. 2008). The theory in our case was a new one and was developed by our students.”

The case is further discussed in the New York Times article, "Ruling Could Mean Lower Rents for 300,000."

On August 13, Professor Monroe H. Freedman testified before the Utah Constitutional Reform Commission, in the State Capitol, about a proposal by the Utah Attorney General's Office to amend the state Constitution to strip the state Supreme Court of its habeas corpus jurisdiction.

Professor of Law Alafair Burke was interviewed by Channel 12 News on March 27 regarding the arrest of Leonardo Valdez-Cruz on suspicion of murdering his girlfriend. The victim had previously reported multiple incidents of violence by the defendant, but prosecutors did not pursue charges because the victim was not willing to testify. Professor Burke discussed ways in which prosecutors can prove domestic violence cases without victim testimony, but also discussed the difficulty with such prosecutions.

Professor Eric Lane, Eric J. Schmertz Distinguished Professor of Public Law, has written an article about the secrecy involved in the firings of U.S. Attorneys - referenced in the following New York Times article. Professor Lane also co-authored an amicus brief in the case that was settled.

Rove, Miers to Testify Before House Panel
By Kate Phillips
The New York Times
March 4, 1009

EXCERPT:
Karl Rove, the top adviser to former President Bush, and Harriet Miers, a former White House counsel in the previous administration, will give testimony to the House Judiciary Committee in its investigation of the firings of United States attorneys, House leaders announced tonight.