Published on October 7, 2026 by Morgan Black  
Carson Carlissa

National security, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence are among the most consequential legal issues facing policymakers today. Through two new scholarly works, Carlissa Carson, associate professor at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, examines how legal systems can adapt to emerging technologies while protecting both national interests and individual rights.

Carson's article, "The White Hat Hacker's Approach: A Vulnerability Analysis of U.S. Cyber Laws," was published in the Montana Law Review in July 2026. The article argues that the nation's cybersecurity legal framework is fragmented and increasingly ill-equipped to address modern cyber threats.

Applying the perspective of a "white hat" hacker, Carson identifies weaknesses in U.S. cybersecurity laws and proposes reforms to strengthen the nation's response to ransomware attacks, state-sponsored cyber threats and disinformation campaigns.

Carson also recently accepted an offer of publication from the Lewis & Clark Law Review for her forthcoming article, "Property in the Process: Exorcising the 'Goldberg Ghost' in the Age of AI Adjudication." The article examines the growing use of artificial intelligence in government decision-making and argues that legal safeguards must evolve alongside the technology to protect fairness, due process and public trust.

Carson's scholarship is informed by a career that spans academia, government service and military leadership. As a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, she advises military leaders on complex legal matters, bringing a practical perspective to her research on how legal systems can adapt to emerging technologies, from cybersecurity threats to the growing use of artificial intelligence in government decision-making.

Together, Carson's recent projects reflect her broader scholarly interest in how legal institutions respond to technological change. Whether examining cybersecurity vulnerabilities or the implications of artificial intelligence, her work explores how the law can evolve to address emerging challenges while preserving security, accountability and justice.

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,522 students from 46 states, Puerto Rico and 12 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s 35 Most Beautiful College Campuses, Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and boasts one of the highest scores in the nation for its 97% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.