The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law is pleased to announce Julia DeLapp, Wayne State University Law School, as the honorable mention recipient at the Third Annual CSL Prize in Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing competition held in conjunction with the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference which was held February 23-25, 2023.

The competition was open to all conferees, which consisted of rising clerks who will serve in federal or state appellate court chambers in the coming year. Subsequent to two days of writing instruction from conference faculty, each entrant drafted a short judicial opinion based on a First Amendment problem written by the Columbus School of Law. The entrants were then submitted for judging in a blind competition to the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference faculty who also served as the judges of the competition. The competition was based solely on writing criteria.

DeLapp graduated from Hillsdale College in 2015, and she will be graduating from Wayne State University Law School in May 2023. After graduation, DeLapp will be clerking for Judge Stephen R. Clark of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri for the 2023–2024 term and Judge Joan L. Larsen of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit for the 2025–2026 term.

Julia DeLapp recently reflected on the importance of a conference like the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference. She shared, "I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference. Professor Harmon and CUA’s Columbus School of Law organized an exceptional event. Every detail was well-executed with enlightening and practical lectures; enjoyable and inspiring company; and delicious food. The conference faculty changed how I read judicial opinions, and I have already been applying the lessons learned." She closed by saying, "I highly recommend future judicial clerks participate in this event."