Angelo Ziotas ’91, a partner at Silver Golub & Teitell LLP, received the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Presenting the award, outgoing CTLA President Peter Dreyer said: “Angelo’s legacy is not only measured in verdicts and settlements, although those are extraordinary. It is measured in the way he has practiced law, the lawyers he has mentored, the clients he has served, and the judgment, generosity and moral clarity he has brought to our profession for decades.”
Author: Fazio, Meagan
Amy Saji ’21 Named a 2026 Health Law Scholar
Amy Saji ’21 has been named a 2026 Health Law Scholar by the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics and Saint Louis University School of Law’s Center for Health Law Studies. The program brings together emerging scholars from across the country to present their work and receive feedback from leaders in the field of health law and bioethics.
The Perry A. Zirkel Law and Education Conference
Religion, Parents, and Public Education at the Crossroads
The role of religion in U.S. public education has long sparked debate, from school prayer to curriculum content. This conference examined a pivotal new development: the Supreme Court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which affirms parents’ right to opt their children out of instruction that conflicts with their religious beliefs. Bringing together scholars, policymakers, and educators, the event explored how this ruling reshapes legal standards, parental rights, and school governance. Panelists discussed the practical and constitutional challenges ahead, focusing on how schools can navigate opt-out policies while maintaining cohesive curricula in an evolving educational landscape.
Miguel Cardona, Former U.S. Secretary of Education, delivered the keynote address.
Mercy, Justice and Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is increasingly entering the legal system, raising questions about what makes human judgment unique.
Many fear that automation could erode the “human essence” of legal decision‑making. But what exactly is that essence, and is it worth preserving given our own tendencies toward bias and error? Drawing on longstanding theological and philosophical debates about mercy and justice, this talk considered how humans and machines should share responsibility in law.
Justice concerns what people deserve, while mercy is by definition undeserved and cannot be fully explained by legal rules. Because of this, even if machines can help produce more consistent or just outcomes, the merciful dimension of judgment will be far harder to automate.
This lecture on February 11 commemorated the investiture of Kiel Brennan-Marquez as the Wallace Stevens Professor of Law.
Professor Richard Pomp Comments on Alaska Tax Proposal
Professor Richard Pomp spoke to Law360 about Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy’s proposal to eliminate the state’s corporate income tax and adopt a temporary statewide sales tax. Professor Pomp noted that Alaska’s size, lack of bordering states, and tourism-driven economy make a state sales tax less vulnerable to avoidance than in many other states.
Josef Volman ’91 Appointed Corporate Practice Group Co-Chair at Blank Rome LLP
Josef B. Volman ’91 has been named a Co‑Chair of the Corporate, M&A, and Securities Practice Group at Blank Rome LLP. Blank Rome announced the appointment as part of a broader leadership update marking the firm’s 80th anniversary.
Miguel de Figueiredo Appears on Podcast
Miguel de Figueiredo was a guest on the “Proof Over Precedent” podcast to talk about his research on judicial review in search and seizure. He and his co-authors discussed their project, the data analysis process, and the implications of potentially insufficient judicial review of warrants. Listen to the podcast.
Elizabeth A. Alquist ’94 Named Connecticut’s Intellectual Property Practitioner of the Year
Elizabeth A. Alquist ’94, Intellectual Property Partner at Day Pitney LLP, was named Intellectual Property Practitioner of the Year at the Second Annual Connecticut Distinguished IP Practitioners’ Dinner, held on November 13. Alquist was nominated for her “exceptional skill in managing complex intellectual property disputes, proven record of success in high-stakes litigation, and steadfast dedication to serving clients and the broader legal community.”
Deborah Witkin ’86 to be Honored by the Connecticut Bar Association
Deborah Witkin ’86 will receive the Charles J. Parker Legal Services award at the Connecticut Bar Association’s annual awards ceremony, Celebrate with the Stars, on Thursday, March 12. Attorney Witkin is the former Executive Director of Connecticut Legal Services (CLS). She retired in January 2026 after 39 years of distinguished service.
The Charles J. Parker Legal Services Award is presented to a member of the Connecticut Bar who has a deep and abiding interest in and dedication to the delivery of legal services to the disadvantaged in Connecticut.
Leslie Levin Quoted in National Law Journal
Professor Leslie Levin was quoted by Law.com’s National Law Journal in an article examining how litigation over executive orders affecting law firms is expected to evolve in 2026 as appeals move forward. Professor Levin discussed the potential implications of the ongoing appellate process for firms that reached agreements with the Trump administration.