Utah Law faculty updates: July 2026

Aug 01, 2026 | Faculty

Each month, we share notable updates—including presentations, publications, panels, and other accomplishments—from Utah Law faculty members.

Associate Professor Daniel AaronAssociate Professor Daniel Aaron

  • Media appearances
    • Quoted in Associated Press, “Is AI ready to take over your prescriptions? Doctors are wary of Utah’s automated refill program” (July 6, 2026).

 

Associate Professor Beau BeaumannAssociate Professor Beau Baumann

  • Media appearances
    • Quoted in The New York Times, “Supreme Court Turbocharges Presidential Power” (July 23, 2026).

 

 

a photo of Teneille BrownProfessor Teneille Brown

  • Media appearances
    • Quoted in Utah News Dispatch, “News cameras can stay, but judge sets other limits in Charlie Kirk murder case” (July 2, 2026).

 

Professor Paul CassellA portrait of Professor Paul Cassell

  • Publications
    • “Presenting the Jury with Patterns of Sexual Assault: Utah’s New Rule Allowing Propensity Evidence,” Utah Bar Journal (July 2026) (co-author with Ryan McBridge).
  • Legislative/judicial engagement
    • Filed an amicus brief on behalf of victim J.H. in United States v. Kirk (Ninth Circuit 2026), arguing that the Circuit lacks jurisdiction to set aside officer Kirk’s conviction for using excessive force against J.H.
  • Media appearances
    • Quoted in Associated Press, “Prosecutors to lay out their case against the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk” (July 5, 2026).
    • Quoted in The Salt Lake Tribune, “Viral Reckless Ben Lego videos skewer American Fork police. Here’s a look at 5 key moments.” (July 10, 2026).
    • Quoted in Associated Press, “Defense tries to sow doubt about evidence in Charlie Kirk’s killing” (July 10, 2026).

Portrait of Professor Jorge ContrerasProfessor Jorge Contreras

  • Publications
    • Jorge L. Contreras, “The Role of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Enforcing Intellectual Property Rights” in THE INTERNATIONAL LAWYER vol. 59(1) (2026).
  • Presentations/panels
    • International Association for the Advancement of Teaching and Research in Intellectual Property (ATRIP) 2026 Annual Conference (Sao Paulo, Brazil, Jun. 2026) (panelist, moderator).
      Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), IP Chat Channel, Anti-Suit Injunctions in Intellectual Property Litigation (online, July 2026) (panelist).
  • Legislative/judicial engagement
    • Cited by the UK Supreme Court in its decision on Tesla v. InterDigital and Avanci, [2026] UKSC 27. The decision reverses the High Court’s jurisdictional dismissal of Tesla’s 2023 rate-setting petition, thereby sending the case back to the lower court, presumably for a FRAND rate determination. 
  • Media appearances
    • Quoted in Bloomberg Law, “Trigger-Maker’s Sweeping Patent Campaign Tests Novel DOJ Tactic” (July 16, 2026).

Valeri CraigleResearch Librarian Valeri Craigle

  • Media appearances
    • Quoted in HeinOnline, “Building the Future of Legal Scholarship: A DOI Partnership Between Hein and the Law Library Community” (July 1, 2026).

 

Professor Brigham DanielsProfessor Brigham Daniels

  • Media appearances
    • Quoted in ABC 4, “‘It’s a big question mark’: MIDA board member, officials address public concerns over Stratos Project” (July 14, 2026).
    • Quoted in Fox 13, “MIDA board member faces questions at Box Elder data center forum” (July 14, 2026).
    • Quoted in KSL, “Data center backer says foes’ wishes should be honored if efforts to challenge plans proceed” (July 14, 2026).

Professor Amos GuioraLecturer Professor Amos Guiora

  • Presentations/panels
    • “Enablers and Bystanders in the Holocaust,” Chicago-Kent College of Law (July 7, 2026).
  • Appointments
  • Legislative/judicial engagement
    • Submitted expert report to mediator in Haley Thomas v. The Regents of the University of Michigan.
  • Media appearances
    • Interviewed on KUTV2, “What’s next now that U.S. Iran ceasefire is over” (July 8, 2026).
    • Interviewed on KRCL, “Enablers: Normalizing the Unimaginable (July 8, 2026).
    • Quoted in Above the Law, “Kathryn Ruemmler’s Epstein Testimony Is ‘Classic Gaslighting’ According To Legal Scholars” (July 16, 2026).

Professor Chris PetersonProfessor Chris Peterson

  • Appointments
    • Nominated as the director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

 

 

a photo of Research Professor of Law John RupleResearch Professor John Ruple

  • Media appearances
    • Published opinion piece in The Salt Lake Tribune, “Voices: Congress is setting our entire public land planning landscape ablaze” (July 6, 2026).
    • Quoted in KSL, “Trump shrinks sizes of Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments — again” (July 13, 2026).
    • Quoted in Outdoor Life, “Trump Cuts 2 Popular Utah National Monuments by 90 Percent — About 3 Million Acres” (July 13, 2026).
    • Published opinion piece in Outdoor News, “Commentary: Results of Oregon lawsuit could reshape public lands” (July 14, 2026).
    • Quoted in The Salt Lake Tribune, “Trump’s shrinking of Utah monuments leave state’s lawsuit against federal government in limbo. Here’s why.” (July 15, 2026)
    • Quoted in Bloomberg Law, “Trump’s Monument Moves Set Up Twisted Route Through Courts” (July 15, 2026).

Professor Matthew ToksonProfessor Matthew Tokson

  • Media appearances
    • Interviewed on Dateline True Crime Weekly, “Mysterious death of Mississippi Black teen. Doctor’s ex-wife allegedly plots his murder. Plus, geofencing.” (July 16, 2026).

OTHER NEWS