Cornell Law School is proud to announce the addition of four esteemed scholars to its faculty, each bringing a unique perspective and expertise to the institution’s rich academic environment. These new faculty members—Jessica M. Eaglin,
Afroditi Giovanopoulou, Frank Pasquale, and K. Sabeel Rahman—have made significant contributions to the fields of criminal justice, international law, law and technology, and administrative law.
Jessica M. Eaglin is an accomplished scholar specializing in criminal legal reforms in response to mass incarceration. Eaglin’s research focuses on the impact of information technologies in criminal legal institutions, particularly algorithmic risk assessment tools at sentencing. Her work sheds light on the challenges and perils these tools pose for marginalized communities, the courts, and society at large.
Eaglin’s career has encompassed roles in academia and advocacy, including serving as counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. Her articles have appeared in prestigious law journals, and she is currently working on her first book, Transformation in the Dark: Informational Criminal Legal Practices and Racial Difference in the Digital Age.
“Professor Eaglin’s path-breaking work on algorithms in criminal sentencing created a new area for legal scholarship and was influential both within the legal academy and outside of it,” said Jens David Ohlin, Allan R. Tessler Dean and Professor of Law. “When combined with our stellar faculty already working in this area, her arrival makes Cornell Law School the leading faculty for criminal law scholarship in the country. I’m so grateful that she has chosen Myron Taylor Hall as her intellectual home.”
Afroditi Giovanopoulou will be joining the Cornell Law faculty as a visiting assistant professor in the spring of 2024 and as an assistant professor in the fall of 2024. Her expertise lies at the intersection of law and history, with a focus on the legal history of international politics and American legal thought.
Giovanopoulou’s research delves into the connections between public and private law, the historical development of American legal education, sovereignty in American legal thought, and the influence of sociological jurisprudence on American foreign policy. She holds advanced degrees from Harvard Law School, Columbia University, and Aristotle University Law School.
Ohlin highlighted Giovanopoulou’s profound contributions to international law, emphasizing her role in continuing Cornell Law School’s legacy as a world leader in this field. “As a historian, Afroditi’s research is profound, timely, and timeless,” said Ohlin.
Frank Pasquale, who has become the third full-time faculty member at Cornell Tech, is a globally recognized expert in law and technology, celebrated for his groundbreaking work in the field. He has authored influential books such as The Black Box Society and New Laws of Robotics, published over seventy articles and book chapters, and co-edited important volumes like The Oxford Handbook on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.
Pasquale’s academic journey, which includes prestigious positions at the University of Maryland, Seton Hall University, and Brooklyn Law School, reflects his dedication to advancing knowledge in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) law and policy. At Cornell Tech, he will share his expertise by teaching courses on AI, health law, and internet law. His research will continue to explore the impact of computation in social contexts, with projects delving into the digitization of judgment, the role of algorithms in society, and the regulation of generative AI.
“Frank’s work is on the cutting edge of legal scholarship,” said Ohlin. “Technology, information, and artificial intelligence are rewriting the rules of law, business, and society, and I can think of no one better than Frank to be our guide during the mind-bending transformations we are witnessing. Our students will be equally inspired and better prepared because of Frank’s instruction and mentorship.”
K. Sabeel Rahman, a distinguished legal scholar with a strong commitment to social change, brings a wealth of experience, having served as a senior political appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration, where he directed the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. His background includes leadership roles in leading racial justice think tanks and advocacy organizations.
Rahman’s research explores the intersection of law, social science, and political theory, with a focus on making society more inclusive and democratic and the economy more equitable. At Cornell Law, he will teach administrative law, constitutional law, and a lecture course titled Structural Inequality and Social Change: Theory and Practice.
Ohlin praised Rahman’s unique blend of academic and practical experience. “Our students, whether they are taking constitutional law or administrative law, will be well-served by his diverse experience, his original theories, and his commitment to the craft of lawyereing,” said Ohlin. “He is a first-rate legal talent worthy of our great Cornell legacy.”
