Penn Law

Front gate leading to steps and entrance to Penn Law building on campus.

Mediation Clinic students as ‘problem-solvers and warriors’

Students at Penn Law’s Mediation Clinic learn to exercise unbiased lawyering judgment by facilitating real mediation sessions, which offer an alternative to litigation, and bring a more holistic and thoughtful process to legal issues.

From Penn Law ・

Illustration of a Black hand with shackle around the wrist and paper in the palm folded like a crane.

The Quattrone Center: Less argument, more truth-seeking

The Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice is pioneering a systemic, data-driven approach to criminal justice reform. Its executive director, John Hollway, started with the idea that the law should function more like science.

The Pennsylvania Gazette ・

hand holding pen signing paperwork

David Hoffman on broken contracts during pandemics

Law professsor David Hoffman argues that there isn’t a precedent, outside a major unexpected event, to keep a party from fulfilling a contract. The pandemic raises a questions about obligations, public policy, and public health.

From Penn Law ・



In the News


The Hill

Pandemic exposes broadband divide

Christopher Yoo of the Law School spoke about the importance of expanding broadband infrastructure in the U.S. “Investing in infrastructure would be a terrific way to support the economy. It not only spends money but also lays the foundation for future growth and future jobs,” he said.

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The Hill

Trump’s PR can’t stop the virus

PIK Professor Jonathan Moreno and Stephen Xenakis of the Law School’s Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law wrote about the politicization of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) amid the pandemic. “Under the disguise of providing an important public mental health initiative, DHHS is at risk of once again appearing to carry out the political objectives of the Trump campaign,” they wrote.

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Christian Science Monitor

Justice for all? Behind US targeting of international court

William Burke-White of the Law School said the increased cooperation between the U.S. and the International Criminal Court (ICC) came to a halt when John Bolton joined the Trump administration and when the ICC moved to investigate the U.S. for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. “The court was coming under a lot of pressure to show that it didn’t just investigate weak governments in Africa but was able to take on the powerful as well,” he said.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

Two sets of brothers spent decades in prison. This may be their last chance to get out

Marissa Bluestine of the Law School said allowing witnesses to identify potential assailants face-to-face, as opposed to in a formal police lineup, is problematic because it can easily produce false identifications.

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The Wall Street Journal

Wisconsin board proposed to review deadly encounters involving police

John Hollway of the Law School said Penn has been working with lawmakers and police departments to develop programs that would investigate incidents of police violence and make recommendations to prevent them from reoccurring. “This is what we call forward accountability,” he said. “How do we prevent this from happening again, as opposed to how do we heal the pain from what’s been caused in the past.”

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