News & Events

American University Washington College of Law is proud to have celebrated in-person our 300 JD, 37 LL.M., and 3 SJD students.The ceremony was hosted by Associate Dean David Jaffe and featured remarks from Dean Roger A. Fairfax Jr., and student speaker Arielle Kafker '22, as well as a commencement address from our 2021 commencement speaker Lisa Monaco, 39th Deputy Attorney General of the United States.

A distinguished group of changemakers reflect on their time at AU before they graduate. WCL's Changemaker, Juliette Jackson, will work to increase access to pro bono advocacy, policy, and litigation services to tribal communities impacted by climate change in California, Nevada, and Oregon. She reflects on her time at WCL along with eight other AU Changemakers.  

A leaked Supreme Court draft majority opinion obtained by Politico strikes down Roe v. Wade, throwing the legality of abortion enshrined in federal law into question. While the decision itself has caused major waves and will likely face fierce opposition, the leaked draft opinion marks a historic moment for the sanctity and privacy of the decisions made within SCOTUS. Professor Stephen Wermiel commented in several media outlets on the leaked draft opinion and its expected impacts on the Supreme Court’s internal operations. 

On April 6, 2022, the 24th Grotius Lecture, sponsored by the American University Washington College of Law, marked the opening of the 116th Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law. Following an introduction by ASIL President Catherine Amirfar, AUWCL Dean Roger A. Fairfax Jr. welcomed the audience and reminded them that over the course of the twenty-four years, this lecture has been an essential public forum to promote international law. He also highlighted that this lecture coincides with the 40th Anniversary of the AUWCL LL.M. program in International Legal Studies. 

Congratulations to Asha Scielzo, Director of the Health Law and Policy Program, who has been named President-Elect Designate for the American Health Law Association (AHLA). A leader in the health law academic community, Professor Scielzo is committed to innovating health law education and preparing the next generation of lawyers specializing in health law.