Faculty In the Media

The following summary lists many of the instances which Widener Law Commonwealth faculty members have been quoted or featured in coverage by local, regional, or national news media organizations. News stories mentioning Widener Law Commonwealth are also included.

Select "Commonwealth Law School" under Colleges/Schools on Widener University's In the Media webpage to view all of the media mentions.

Featured In the Media Hits

2024 EMS Symposium

2024 Center for Equity & Justice Launch

Please note that some news sites may require registration in order to view stories and some links may expire shortly after they are posted.

FOX43
People are getting $100 checks from Elon Musk’s America PAC—even if they didn't sign the petition 
November 25, 2024
Michael Dimino is featured in this article discussing Pennsylvanians receiving checks from Elon Musk's America PAC and whether it should be considered election fraud. 

WZMQ
Special Counsel Drops Election Subversion, Classified Documents Cases Against President-Elect Trump 
November 25, 2024
Commonwealth Law School Professor Michael Dimino is quoted in this article following news that two federal cases against President-elect Trump have been dropped. 

Penn Live
Dauphin County law school launches Center for Equity and Justice 
November 18, 2024
Commonwealth Law School has launched the Center for Equity and Justice, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to promoting social justice and creating equal opportunities for marginalized communities in the legal profession and beyond. Dean andré douglas pond cummings is featured, along with Associate Professor Kellyn McGee, who will serve as the center's faculty director.

ABC 27
Widener Commonwealth Law School launches Center for Equity and Justice 
November 14, 2024
Commonwealth Law School has launched a new Center for Equity and Justice, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to promoting social justice and creating equal opportunities for marginalized communities in the legal profession and beyond. Dean andré douglas pond cummings is featured discussing the importance of the initiative, as well as Commonwealth Law student fellow Tara Smith and Associate Professor Kellyn McGee, who will serve as the center's faculty director.

FOX 43
Widener University Commonwealth Law School hosts program to discuss medical civil rights for those in law enforcement custody 
November 7, 2024
Commonwealth Law School hosted an EMS law and policy symposium bringing legal and emergency medical professionals together for a day of education and collaboration. Widener Trustee Doug Wolfberg '96 shares about the importance of the event in the written story, and Dean andré douglas pond cummings gave an extensive live interview in the story's video component.

Fortune
Musk has nothing to fear from Philadelphia’s lawsuit into vote buying, says election law expert 
October 29, 2024
Commonwealth Law School Professor Michael Dimino offers insight into the legality of Elon Musk's cash sweepstakes for voters who sign his petition.

PA Environmental Digest
Widener Law Emeritus Professor John Dernbach Receives American Bar Association Distinguished Achievement Award In Environmental Law And Policy 
October 24, 2024
John Dernbach, Commonwealth Law School emeritus professor, has been recognized with the American Bar Association’s 2024 Distinguished Achievement Award in Environmental Law and Policy for his contributions to environmental protection advocacy. 

Verify
Is Elon Musk’s $1 million PAC petition giveaway illegal? Depends on who you ask 
October 22, 2024
Commonwealth Law School Professor Michael Dimino offers insight into Elon Musk's recent move to give $1 million to Pennsylvania voters who sign his political action committee’s petition.  

60 Minutes
Pennsylvania Counts; The Vatican’s Orphans; Ballmer’s Ballgame 
October 13, 2024
Widener University Commonwealth Law School served as a backdrop for footage in this segment that focused on Pennsylvania's election policy, election security, and plans for counting 2024 presidential election ballots. The program included interviews with former Gov. Tom Corbett, which was conducted at the law school, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, and others, as well as footage from a panel discussion held recently in the Harrisburg campus administration building. 

ABC 27
Former prosecutor: Unclear why Gettysburg College student would go to media but not police if ‘hate crime really did occur’ 
September 27, 2024
F. Lee Francis, associate professor at Commonwealth Law School, is featured in this article following an incident at Gettysburg College where a racial slur was scratched onto a student's chest. Francis offers commentary following the student's refusal to speak with authorities. 

Daily Mail
Social media explodes with wild allegation after Trump slipped mother $100 bill to help pay for her groceries 
September 25, 2024
Michael Dimino, professor at Commonwealth Law School, is quoted following controversy after former President Donald Trump gave a Pennsylvania woman $100 at a grocery store. 

FOX 43
Bipartisan panel answers voter questions about electoral process 
September 23, 2024
A bipartisan panel of former and current Pennsylvania officials was hosted on campus at Commonwealth Law School. 
See also: ABC 27

Law360
Chevron's Demise May Not Bring Deluge Courts Had Feared 
September 20, 2024
Commonwealth Law School Professor Jill Family is quoted in this article considering the legal fallout from a U.S. Supreme Court decision doing away with a previous requirement that courts defer to federal administrative agencies when a statute is silent or ambiguous. Family says during a period of initial unpredictability she expects to see more challenges to agency interpretations of immigration law.

The New York Times
Who Gets to Kill in Self-Defense? 
September 4, 2024
Work published by Michal Buchhandler-Raphael, associate professor at Commonwealth Law School, is referenced in this New York Times opinion article. In her paper, Buchhandler-Raphael suggests a new charge which she calls "survival homicide" which could be used in special cases.

PPSA
The Fourth Amendment Has No “Defensive Search” Exception 
August 11, 2024
Work by Noah Chauvin, assistant professor at Commonwealth Law School, is quoted in this article examining surveillance practices of U.S. intelligence agencies.

Penn Live
Can the world be saved from politics, war and self destruction? Pennsylvania’s young leaders have the answer 
July 31, 2024
John Dernbach, emeritus professor at Commonwealth Law School, is set to speak at the International Young Leaders Conference & Career Fair.

The Baltimore Sun
Kamala Harris should look past the swing states in pick for veep 
July 31, 2024
Michael Cozzillio, Commonwealth Law School emeritus professor, authored this piece sharing his thoughts on Vice President Kamala Harris' search for a running mate.

Washington Examiner
FBI and privacy hawks clash over encryption after Trump assassination attempt 
July 29, 2024
Noah Chauvin, assistant professor at Commonwealth Law School, is quoted about encryption and privacy in this article about the FBI's investigation into Donald Trump's attempted assassination.

Wired
US Senators Secretly Work to Block Safeguards Against Surveillance Abuse 
July 15, 2024
Noah Chauvin, assistant professor at Commonwealth Law School, is quoted in this article that details ongoing efforts by the United State Senate to pass surveillance reform.

Pennsylvania Record
Professor Jill Family named Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development 
July 2, 2024
Professor Jill Family has been appointed as associate dean for faculty research and development at Commonwealth Law School.

WPMT-FOX43 News
Can a president assassinate a political rival? Local expert weighs in on the Trump v. United States decision
July 1, 2024
Michael Dimino, professor at Commonwealth Law School, offers expert insight in this article about yesterday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. Dimino helps to clarify the case and the ruling, and offers insight into what this could mean for former President Trump, and beyond.

Erie News Now
SCOTUS Rules to Limit Obstruction Charge for January 6 Defendant
June 28, 2024
Michael Dimino, professor at Commonwealth Law School, is featured giving expert commentary following a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court in a case involving the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Dimino helps clarify the ruling for readers, and explains how things could be moving forward for these defendants as well as for former President Donald Trump, who is also facing charges in relation to Jan. 6.

POLITIFACT
If Florida’s abortion rights amendment passes, courts will weigh parental consent question 
May 1, 2024
Quinn Yeargain, assistant professor at Commonwealth Law School, is quoted in this article about a new amendment proposed in Florida concerning abortion rights for minors.

TRIB LIVE
Pittsburgh region sees lowest presidential primary turnout since 2012 
April 24, 2024
Quinn Yeargain, assistant professor at Commonwealth Law School, is referenced in this article examining voter turnout in the Pittsburgh area for the Pennsylvania primary election.

THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY
Lindke v. Freed: Supreme Court Unanimously Holds That Public Officials Can Block Public from Personal Social-Media Pages Except When Posts Speak for the Government 
March 18, 2024
Michael Dimino, professor at Commonwealth Law School, authored this blog post following the United States Supreme Court ruling in the case of Lindke v. Freed. The case involved social media comments on posts made by public officials.

STANCHI & OLIVEIRA
Seminar debates legal solutions to tackle the climate crisis 
March 10, 2024
John Dernbach, emeritus professor at Commonwealth Law School, will be part of an upcoming webinar “Legal solutions for a net zero future: Launching the International Bar Association's climate registry” hosted by the International Bar Association. This article is available in English or Portuguese.

BOLTS
Red State AGs Keep Trying to Kill Ballot Measures by a Thousand Cuts 
February 29, 2024
Quinn Yeargain, assistant professor at Commonwealth Law School, comments on recent reports that state officials in a number of states are blocking ballot proposals from reaching voters. 

PENN LIVE
Diversity can bring unity and a symphony of life 
February 27, 2024
Michael J. Hussey, dean of Widener Commonwealth Law School, authors this opinion article on the harmonious nature and importance of diversity. This article also promotes the school's upcoming Dean’s Diversity Forum on Tuesday, March 5.

THE GUARDIAN
Wisconsin adopts new legislative maps, giving Democrats chance to win state 
February 20, 2024
Quinn Yeargain, assistant professor at Commonwealth Law School, gives insight in this article examining new state legislative maps in Wisconsin.

AXIOS
Oregon senators who walked out barred from reelection 
February 2, 2024
A post on X made by Quinn Yeargain, assistant professor at Commonwealth Law School, is referenced in this article about a recent ruling from the Oregon Supreme Court.

TRIB LIVE
Pa. Supreme Court returns Medicaid-funded abortion case to lower court 
January 29, 2024
Quinn Yeargain, assistant professor at Commonwealth Law School, is quoted discussing a recent decision by the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court to send a case dealing with abortion rights back to the Commonwealth Court. Yeargain shares that this decision could be seen as a clear indication of how the state Supreme Court expects the lower court to rule.

MOCO 360
MoCo Politics: Parties exert stranglehold on General Assembly vacancies. Is 2024 the year of change? 
January 26, 2024
A publication by Quinn Yeargain, assistant professor at Commonwealth Law School, is referenced in this article examining the political system in Maryland.

PENN LIVE
People fleeing climate change disasters should be considered refugees 
January 4, 2024
Donald Brown, scholar in residence at Commonwealth Law School, authored this piece discussing how people fleeing the impacts of climate change could be considered refugees.

PENN LIVE
New dean to lead Dauphin County law school beginning in June 
January 2, 2024
andré douglas pond cummings has been selected as the new dean of Commonwealth Law School effective June 1, 2024. cummings currently serves as the Charles C. Baum distinguished professor of law, at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law.

SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL
Sports betting opponents’ final plea to Florida Supreme Court: Don’t let DeSantis usurp voters’ power 
January 2, 2024
Quinn Yeargain, assistant professor at Commonwealth Law School, is featured in this article examining an anticipated ruling by the Florida State Supreme Court pertaining to sports betting and state constitutional amendments.
See also:Yahoo! News, Miami Herald