Elizabeth M. Jaffe
Associate Professor
ejaffe@johnmarshall.eduEducation
B.A., Emory University, magna cum laude
J.D., Washington University School of Law
Courses Taught
Domestic Relations; Legal Research, Writing & Analysis I & II; Pretrial Practice & Procedure; Depositions
Career Highlights
Elizabeth M. Jaffe is an Associate Professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. Professor Jaffe teaches Domestic Relations, Legal Research and Writing, Pre-Trial Practice and Procedure, and an intersession course on Taking and Defending Depositions. Professor Jaffe’s scholarly research focuses on social media liability and cyberbullying.
Professor Jaffe has published numerous articles related to bullying, cyberbullying, free speech, and social media. She has received national media coverage for her expertise in this emerging area of the law.
Professor Jaffe received her B.A. with high honors from Emory University. She received her J.D. from Washington University School of Law in 1995. While in law school, Professor Jaffe served as an associate editor of the Washington University Journal of Urban and Contemporary Law. In her third year of law school, Professor Jaffe published a Comment titled: A Structure for Legal Interpretation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Oberti v. Board of Education, 995 F.2d 1024 (3d Cir. 1993), 46 WASH U.J.URB. & CONTEMP. L. 391 (1994). After graduating from law school, Professor Jaffe served as the Judicial Clerk to The Honorable John E. Girardeau, Superior Court, Northeastern Judicial Circuit of Georgia. Professor Jaffe then practiced in the areas of family law and business litigation until she joined the faculty at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in 2006.
Publications
Likes, Liability, and The Law: Legal Challenges of Social Media’s Impact on Adolescent Well-Being, 23.1 Va. Sports & Ent. L.J. 33 (2025).
Looking for Liability for Harmful Social Media Content and Cyberbullying After Gonzalez v. Google, LLC, 28 Marq. Intell. Prop. & Innovation L. Rev. 17 (2024).
Algorithms, Filters, and Anonymous Messaging: The Addictive Side of Social Media, 23 J. High Tech. L. 260 (2023).
Caution Social Media Cyberbullies: Identifying New Harms and Liabilities, 66 Wayne L. Rev. 381 (2021). Cited in Dewitt v. Haney, 4:21cv340-AW-MAF (N.D. Fla. Feb. 7, 2023).
From Terrorists to Trolls: Expanding Web Host Liability for Live-Streaming, Swatting, and Cyberbullying, 26 B.U. J. Sci & Tech. L. 51 (2020).
Swatting: The New Cyberbullying Frontier After Elonis v. United States, 64 Drake L. Rev. 455 (2016). Cited in People v. Pagano, 967 N.W.2d 590 (2021) (Viviano, J., concurring).
From the School Yard to Cyberspace: A Review of Bullying Liability, 40 Rutgers Comm. & Tech. L.J. 17 (2014).
Imposing a Duty in an Online World: Holding the Webhost Liable for Cyberbullying, 35 Hastings Comm. & Ent. L.J. 277 (2013).
Elizabeth M. Jaffe & Robert J. D’Agostino, Bullying in Public Schools: The Intersection Between the Student’s Free Speech Rights and the School’s Duty to Protect, 62 MERCER L. REV. 407 (2011).
Cyberbullies Beware: Reconsidering Vosburg v. Putney in the Internet Age, 5 CHARLESTON L. REV. 379 (2011). Cited in F.B.C. v. MDwise, Inc., 122 N.E.3d 834 (2019) (Bailey, J., dissenting).
Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones But Extreme and Outrageous Conduct Will Never Hurt Me: The Demise of Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Claims in the Aftermath of Snyder v. Phelps, 57.2 Wayne L. Rev. 473 (2011).
A Structure for Legal Interpretation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Oberti v. Bd. of Educ., 995 F.2d 1024 (2d Cir. 1993), 46 Wash U.J. Urb. & Contemp. L. 391 (1994).
Media, Public & Professional Appearances
The Hill (August 28, 2025). Campus swatting calls bring terrifying start to new school year.
CBS News (August 26, 2025). False active shooter calls spread panic among universities.
TODAY.com (August 26, 2025). Authorities Investigate Spike in Swatting Calls at Colleges.
CNN US (August 26, 2025). A wave of active shooter hoaxes at universities brings panic and turmoil to the start of the school year.
Fox Live Now, Andy Mac Live Interview (August 24, 2025). Villanova University Investigated After Another False Active Shooter Report.
USA Today (August 23, 2025). Hoaxes and panic: ‘Swatting’ incident at Villanova is a national problem.
University of Virginia Sports and Entertainment Law Journal Symposium (February 21, 2025). Social Media Regulation and Litigation.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Faculty Showcase Symposium (March 22, 2024). Looking for Liability For Harmful Social Media Content.
Law.com (August 29, 2023). Lawsuits Are Mounting Over Bullying—And the Limelight Is a Weapon.
A&E True Crime Blog: Stories and News (March 29, 2023). When Bullying Turns Deadly.
Newsone (September 28, 2022). What Is ‘Swatting’? Fake 911 Calls Surge As HBCU Bomb Threats Go Unaccounted For.
A&E True Crime Blog: Stories and News (June 21, 2022). ‘Swatting’: How a Hoax Can Become Deadly
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (August 16, 2021). Professor Jaffe Cited in Michigan Supreme Court Concurring Opinion.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (June 18, 2019). Professor Elizabeth Jaffe Cited in Dissenting Opinion.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (March 19, 2019). Professor Jaffe Quoted in The Wall Street Journal.
The Wall Street Journal (March 15, 2019). It’s Hard to Spot the Terrorists Among the Trolls.
Mary Lin Elementary School PTA (March 23, 2017). Cyberbullying Prevention.
The Wrap (September 20, 2016). Logo’s Gay Bachelor Threatens to Sue Online ‘Bullies’ Following Escort Scandal.
NJ Spotlight (April 25, 2013). At Cyberbullying Conference, Experts and Educators Try to Define Line Between Texting and Trouble.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (April 25, 2013). AJMLS Professor Weighs in on Anti-Bullying Laws.
North Jersey News (April 25, 2013). Rutgers forum looks at challenges of prosecuting cyberbullying cases.
Southeast Regional Legal Writing Conference (April 27, 2013). Teaching Soft Skills to New Lawyers.
Rutgers Computer and Technology Law Journal and Rutgers Institute for Professional Education (April 24, 2013). Cyberbullying in America: A Discussion of Liability, Policy, and Progress.
Biennial Conference of the Legal Writing Institute (June 30, 2012). Creating Effective Legal Writing Problems.
Capital Area Legal Writing Conference (March 14, 2012). Teaching Soft Skills to New Lawyers.
Legal Writing Institute One Day Conference (December 2, 2011). Getting Started with Scholarship.
U.S. Supreme Court Update, Institute of Continuing Legal Education of Georgia (2011). When Tort Law and the First Amendment Collide.
GPB News (November 8, 2011). Revamped Bullying Law Arrives In Schools.
New Lawyer Continuing Legal Education Series at Georgia State University (1998). Family Law for the New Lawyer.