Eleanor “Ellie” Ritter of Pepperdine University Rick J. Caruso School of Law has earned first place in the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing competition held in conjunction with the 2024 Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference (JCOW) held from February 22 to 24, at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.

After graduating with degrees in journalism and international affairs from the University of Georgia in 2020, Ritter set her sights on law school, desiring to remain in an intellectual environment where she utilizes what she had learned studying journalism while also continuing to challenge herself. “I thought those skills I learned as a journalist could translate well into the study and practice of law,” she wrote in a statement to Catholic Law. “And, toward the end of my undergraduate experience, I realized I wanted to remain for as long as I could in an intellectually challenging atmosphere where I could continue to learn and absorb. Law school offered exactly that type of environment.”

Ritter will graduate from Pepperdine in May 2024, after which she will clerk through the 2024-2025 term for the Honorable Allison H. Eid of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. In her statement, Ritter reflected on the importance of conferences like JCOW. “Law school teaches us legal writing, but often not in the context of writing judicial opinions,” she wrote. “Judicial opinion writing demands a specific set of writing skills—a skill set so different from writing briefs, memos, or scholarly articles.

“The Judicial Clerkship Writing Conference provides an unmatched opportunity for students to learn those skills by immersing themselves in incredible judicial writing from some of our nation’s best judges, who provide a peek behind the curtain at what makes their opinions so strong.”

On winning the writing competition, Ritter expressed deep gratitude to not only the judges but also her mentors at Pepperdine and other supporters from her community. “I would like to thank the entire JCOW faculty, especially Professor A.G. Harmon, for putting on such a fantastic and informative event,” she wrote. “I would be remiss not to thank my professors at Pepperdine Law, including Professors Joel Johnson and Mark Kubisch (among countless others), who spurred my love for legal writing and who have given me great models of inspiration in their own writing. Finally, I am so grateful for my fiancé, Chance, who has supported me in every endeavor.”

“JCOW has been one of the highlights of my law school career,” she said in closing. “I am very honored that the judges selected my opinion, and I am so excited to put my now-honed writing skills to good use as a judicial clerk.”

Click here to learn more about the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference.