Kat Macfarlane
@katmacfarlane.bsky.social
Law prof interested in civil rights, disability, and procedure. At war with my immune system. I have the best dog. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=2115906
Pinned
Higher Education's Accommodations Mistake
<p><span>A university may deny a disabled student’s reasonable accommodation request if it decides that the accommodation would fundamentally alter its academic
papers.ssrn.com
Higher Education’s Accommodations Mistake is forthcoming in the Georgetown LJ. It argues that the fundamental alteration defense is misapplied in higher ed and that Guckenberger & Wynne were wrongly decided, resulting in decades of unjustified accommodation denials. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
A few wonderful moments from our Women in Legal Education RBG Award ceremony. The number of legends in the room was something to behold. Congratulations Professor Peggy Cooper Davis and Professor Pat Williams! #AALS2026
January 9, 2026 at 4:09 AM
A few wonderful moments from our Women in Legal Education RBG Award ceremony. The number of legends in the room was something to behold. Congratulations Professor Peggy Cooper Davis and Professor Pat Williams! #AALS2026
Reposted by Kat Macfarlane
Law and Mental Disability Section Chair Prof. Laura Hoffman is moderating “Mental Health and Law: Is All ‘Well’ in the Legal Academy?” at #AALS2026. Thanks to Section Program Chair Amy Campbell for organizing this important panel and all panelists.
January 8, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Law and Mental Disability Section Chair Prof. Laura Hoffman is moderating “Mental Health and Law: Is All ‘Well’ in the Legal Academy?” at #AALS2026. Thanks to Section Program Chair Amy Campbell for organizing this important panel and all panelists.
Got to see my (very chic) little sister here in New Orleans! Love you Alessandra ❤️
January 8, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Got to see my (very chic) little sister here in New Orleans! Love you Alessandra ❤️
Reposted by Kat Macfarlane
Professor of Law and Director of the Disability Law and Policy Program @katmacfarlane.bsky.social provided Bloomberg Law with perspectives on recent court decisions on disability-based teleworking accommodations. #lawsky #ada #disabilitylaw news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/o...
Openness to Disability-Based Telework Grew in US Courts in 2025
The US government and other major employers like Amazon.com Inc., Deloitte LLP, and JPMorgan Chase led the continued push in 2025 for workers to return to the office from at-home arrangements establis...
news.bloomberglaw.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Professor of Law and Director of the Disability Law and Policy Program @katmacfarlane.bsky.social provided Bloomberg Law with perspectives on recent court decisions on disability-based teleworking accommodations. #lawsky #ada #disabilitylaw news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/o...
The Women in Legal Education Section will be ‘Unpacking Harassment and Bullying in the Legal Academy’ in Grand Salon 3 at 9:35. My co-presenter Laura Hoffman will be addressing issues specific to women with disabilities. See you there! #AALS2026.
January 8, 2026 at 1:51 PM
The Women in Legal Education Section will be ‘Unpacking Harassment and Bullying in the Legal Academy’ in Grand Salon 3 at 9:35. My co-presenter Laura Hoffman will be addressing issues specific to women with disabilities. See you there! #AALS2026.
Patricia Williams is the co-recipient of this year’s WILE RBG Award. The speeches introducing her touch upon the long reach of her tremendous influence and impact. #AALS2026
January 7, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Patricia Williams is the co-recipient of this year’s WILE RBG Award. The speeches introducing her touch upon the long reach of her tremendous influence and impact. #AALS2026
Join the Disability Law Section in Grand Salon 4 @ 2:35 for ‘Pillars in Peril: Civil and Disability Rights Law Under Attack.’ I’ll be discussing my forthcoming article Disability and Constitutional Legitimacy. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
January 7, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Join the Disability Law Section in Grand Salon 4 @ 2:35 for ‘Pillars in Peril: Civil and Disability Rights Law Under Attack.’ I’ll be discussing my forthcoming article Disability and Constitutional Legitimacy. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Kat Macfarlane
Great time at #AALS2026 Section on Law, Medicine & Healthcare WIP w presenters: @drximebena.bsky.social @leahfowler.bsky.social Doni Blumfield and Tomer Pierson-Brown & comments by @katmacfarlane.bsky.social @nicholson.bsky.social Melissa Wasserman and Nancy Kim! We love supporting junior scholars 💪
January 7, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Great time at #AALS2026 Section on Law, Medicine & Healthcare WIP w presenters: @drximebena.bsky.social @leahfowler.bsky.social Doni Blumfield and Tomer Pierson-Brown & comments by @katmacfarlane.bsky.social @nicholson.bsky.social Melissa Wasserman and Nancy Kim! We love supporting junior scholars 💪
Reposted by Kat Macfarlane
Professor @katmacfarlane.bsky.social Discusses Judge Shopping with Law.com "I think we're in an era where there's a little bit more openness about challenging judicial behavior outside of how the merits are decided," said Macfarlane. #lawsky www.law.com/2026/01/05/j...
Judge Shopping 'Consequences' Are Worth Keeping Tabs On, Experts Say| Law.com
"The thing to keep in mind is that random case assignment is subject to so many exceptions across the federal courts,” said Syracuse University College of Law professor Katherine MacFarlane. “Random a...
www.law.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Professor @katmacfarlane.bsky.social Discusses Judge Shopping with Law.com "I think we're in an era where there's a little bit more openness about challenging judicial behavior outside of how the merits are decided," said Macfarlane. #lawsky www.law.com/2026/01/05/j...
Today’s panel is all about managing disability and accommodations while on the job market (disclose or not?), during tenure or promotion and other stressful times, and as a lateral. All questions (and disability allies) are welcome at 1 pm in Grand Salon 3.
Syracuse Law at #AALS2026 – Jan. 6
Professor of Law and Director, Disability Law and Policy Program @katmacfarlane.bsky.social
Managing Disability: From Academic Job Searching Through Tenure, Promotion, and Beyond panel 1 p.m.
law.syracuse.edu/news/syracus...
Professor of Law and Director, Disability Law and Policy Program @katmacfarlane.bsky.social
Managing Disability: From Academic Job Searching Through Tenure, Promotion, and Beyond panel 1 p.m.
law.syracuse.edu/news/syracus...
Syracuse University College of Law AALS 2026 Annual Meeting Participants
Several College of Law deans and professors will be panelists, moderators, and discussants at the 2026 American Association of Law Schools Annual Meeting, J ...
law.syracuse.edu
January 6, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Today’s panel is all about managing disability and accommodations while on the job market (disclose or not?), during tenure or promotion and other stressful times, and as a lateral. All questions (and disability allies) are welcome at 1 pm in Grand Salon 3.
Reposted by Kat Macfarlane
Really enjoyed talking to @aanteau.bsky.social about judge shopping & #ScheduleA:
Judge Shopping 'Consequences' Are Worth Keeping Tabs On, Experts Say| Law.com
"The thing to keep in mind is that random case assignment is subject to so many exceptions across the federal courts,” said Syracuse University College of Law professor Katherine Macfarlane. “Random a...
www.law.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Really enjoyed talking to @aanteau.bsky.social about judge shopping & #ScheduleA:
Reposted by Kat Macfarlane
A draft of When Disability Is Different: Reasonable Accommodations & Higher Ed DEI, forthcoming in a Case Western L. Rev. symposium edition, is up! It looks at how accommodation services were treated as higher ed DEI resources. Will be addressing this @theaals too. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
When Disability Is Different: Reasonable Accommodations & Higher Ed DEI
This essay examines how the dismantling of higher education diversity, equity, and inclusion ("DEI") has impacted the range of services provided to st
papers.ssrn.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:55 PM
A draft of When Disability Is Different: Reasonable Accommodations & Higher Ed DEI, forthcoming in a Case Western L. Rev. symposium edition, is up! It looks at how accommodation services were treated as higher ed DEI resources. Will be addressing this @theaals too. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Good time to read and follow @katz.theracket.news
Now that you mention it I did feel summoned
I was actively invoking it with hourly incantations. “I wonder what Jonathan Katz has to say about this?” “Where is Katz on this invasion?” And “I really need to re-read *Gangsters of Capitalism*” aka “that Smedley Butler book” as I describe it to my spouse.
January 5, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Good time to read and follow @katz.theracket.news
This appointment has flown under the radar but it’s great news. A progressive lawyer will finally head Corp Counsel (aka the NYC Law Dept, which includes the s. 1983-focused Special Fed Lit Division).
Mamdani Nominates Top City Lawyer and Deputy Mayor of Health
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:10 AM
This appointment has flown under the radar but it’s great news. A progressive lawyer will finally head Corp Counsel (aka the NYC Law Dept, which includes the s. 1983-focused Special Fed Lit Division).
Particularly excited about new works by Tomar Pierson Brown (Pitt) and Brandy Johnson (SIU). They're both presenting @theaals.bsky.social this week.
Have had the pleasure of reading some really exciting new work by jr scholars in connection with @theaals.bsky.social WIP programs. Looking forward to the conference and NOLA. And Pizza Delicious.
January 4, 2026 at 11:08 PM
Particularly excited about new works by Tomar Pierson Brown (Pitt) and Brandy Johnson (SIU). They're both presenting @theaals.bsky.social this week.
A draft of When Disability Is Different: Reasonable Accommodations & Higher Ed DEI, forthcoming in a Case Western L. Rev. symposium edition, is up! It looks at how accommodation services were treated as higher ed DEI resources. Will be addressing this @theaals too. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
When Disability Is Different: Reasonable Accommodations & Higher Ed DEI
This essay examines how the dismantling of higher education diversity, equity, and inclusion ("DEI") has impacted the range of services provided to st
papers.ssrn.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:55 PM
A draft of When Disability Is Different: Reasonable Accommodations & Higher Ed DEI, forthcoming in a Case Western L. Rev. symposium edition, is up! It looks at how accommodation services were treated as higher ed DEI resources. Will be addressing this @theaals too. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Just read Leigha’s current WIP and it is SO good. She’s a beautiful writer (and person).
I will miss her here in Syracuse but my wonderful mentee Leigha Crout is off to @depaullaw.bsky.social this fall and has a wonderful career ahead of her. Good luck Leigha!
January 3, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Just read Leigha’s current WIP and it is SO good. She’s a beautiful writer (and person).
Barkety bark barking during my work call and now that the call is over completely silent and innocent-looking
January 2, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Barkety bark barking during my work call and now that the call is over completely silent and innocent-looking
Reposted by Kat Macfarlane
Imagining the day that Andrew Cuomo had. The glaring. The scowling. The awkward silences. Blessings to us all.
January 2, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Imagining the day that Andrew Cuomo had. The glaring. The scowling. The awkward silences. Blessings to us all.