Judges, Clerks, and guests at the Fifth Annual Judicial Clerkship Writing Conference's opening reception
The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law (Catholic Law) proudly hosted its fifth annual Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference from February 20-22, 2025. This prestigious event brought together distinguished judges and rising judicial law clerks from across the nation to explore the intricacies of crafting well-reasoned judicial opinions.
After reviewing a large number of competitive applications, 35 rising judicial law clerks were selected to participate in this year’s program. These clerks, who will soon begin their roles in the chambers of federal circuit courts, federal district courts, or state appellate courts, gained invaluable insights from the conference’s unique mentorship opportunities with sitting judges. The program provided a rare chance to analyze and master the skills needed to write thoughtful and effective legal decisions.
The conference commenced with a networking reception and an opening dinner for the clerks and 12 attending jurists. The evening featured a keynote address by Chris Michel, Esq., of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, and was generously sponsored by Arthur N. Fuccillo ’78, a member of the Board of Visitors.
The first day of workshops offered four plenary sessions led by esteemed judges, who shared their expertise on crafting judicial opinions that are analytical, organized, rhetorically effective, and diplomatically sound. The distinguished speakers included Judges Paul B. Matey (Third Circuit Court of Appeals), Kyle Duncan (Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals), Chad Readler (Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals), and Robert Bacharach (Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals).
Judge Eleni Roumel works with the Clerks in a day two breakout session
On the second day, participants engaged in seven breakout sessions, each led by a member of the judiciary. Judges Katherine A. Crytzer (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee), Kathryn Davis, Edward Meyers ’05, Eleni M. Roumel, and Victor J. Wolski (U.S. Court of Federal Claims), Diane Kiesel ’85 (Supreme Court of the State of New York), and Lee Rudofsky (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas) reviewed and critiqued draft opinions prepared by the clerks. These smaller, focused sessions allowed for in-depth discussions on style, mechanics, strategies, and drafting techniques.
The conference concluded with a panel discussion and Q&A session featuring Judges Katherine Crytzer, Edward Meyers, and Lee Rudofsky. The panel addressed common challenges and specific writing needs that clerks may encounter while working at the trial court level.
Reflecting on the experience, Ankit Pal, a law student at Drake University, shared on LinkedIn: “The insights I gained on legal analysis and judicial writing were invaluable, and I am excited to apply them to my clerkship with Judge Mary Chicchelly of the Iowa Court of Appeals starting this fall.” Another participant, Michael Johnson, a law student at Texas A&M University School of Law, remarked, "Spending the weekend in Washington D.C. studying legal writing with esteemed judges was an invaluable experience as I prepare for my upcoming clerkship." Johnson is set to clerk for James O. Browning in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico during the 2025-2026 term.
All participants are eligible for the Catholic Law Prize in Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing, which will be judged by the conference’s panel of judges. The prize will focus on a previous year's issue drawn from Catholic Law’s Seigenthaler-Sutherland Cup National First Amendment Moot Court Competition.
Catholic Law’s Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference is an integral part of the Law School’s First Amendment Initiatives and is held each spring semester. For inquiries, please contact the conference organizer, Professor A.G. Harmon, Associate Dean of Bench and Bar Programs, at harmon@law.edu.