Notre Dame Lawyer

G. Marcus Cole, The Joseph A. Matson Dean & Professor of Law, welcomes readers to the 2026 issue of Notre Dame Lawyer magazine! While we celebrate Notre Dame Lawyers each and every day, this special issue is dedicated to a celebration of Notre Dame Judges and the relationship of Notre Dame Law School to the judiciary.

Notre Dame Lawyer is published for the alumni, friends, and benefactors of the University of Notre Dame Law School. Each issue includes exciting news about our alumni, faculty, and students!

The Kresge Law Library has a print collection in Biolchini Hall of Law shelved at call number KF292.N674 A42. The Notre Dame Law School Marketing and Communications Office reports that the Notre Dame Lawyer was published 1994–2013, 2017–18, and in 2024 prior to our current issue.

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Notre Dame [Lawyer] Judge - 2026

Notre Dame Law School

Cover

25 U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett

31 The Rise of Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick

39 Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and the Pursuit of Justice

05 News

71 Alumni

81 Faculty

Judicial Profiles

35 Judge Ann Claire Williams ’75 J.D.

37 Q&A: Judge John Blakey ’88, ’92 J.D.

38 Judge Martha Vázquez ’75, ’78 J.D. ’43

43 Q&A: Judge Edward S. Kiel ’91 J.D.

45 Four Alumni: Their Roles as Federal Magistrate Judges

47 Judge Jerry Pappert ’88 J.D.

49 Justice Mary Yu ’93 J.D.

51 Judge Charles R. Wilson ’76, ’79 J.D.

53 The Specialists: Article I Federal Court Judges

56 Q&A: Judge Thomas Schroeder ’84 J.D.

57 Judge Bernard M. Jones ’04 J.D.

59 Judge Paul Niemeyer ’66 J.D.

62 Judge Cristal Brisco ’06 J.D.

63 Senior Judge Nora Barry Fischer ’76 J.D.

44 Benchmark Judicial Briefs, Meet Nineteen Notre Dame Law Judges

Features

69 From Notre Dame to the White House: Rachel Palermo’s Path to Public Service

79 Fifty Years After the Karen Ann Quinlan Decision
Notre Dame Lawyer - 2024

Notre Dame Law School

Cover
- 17 The Legacy of Dean David T. Link
Features
- 11 Beyond the Headlines: Exoneration Justice Clinic
- 31 From the Frontlines: Global Human Rights Clinic
- 37 Special Education Law Clinic
- 03 News Briefs
- 63 Faculty News
Alumni Profiles
- 15 Walking with the Condemned: Dale Recinella
- 25 New School of Thought: Craig Watz
- 41 Helping Immigrants Find a Better Life in America: Matthew DiCianni
- 43 Answering the Call for Help: Dan and Daria Absher
- 47 A Different Kind of Lawyer: JoAnn Chávez
- 52 Driving Business Advocacy: Stephanie Maloney, Audrey Beck, Tara Morrissey
- 55 A Life of Service, Advocacy, and Courage: John Lancaster
- 57 The Visionary: Cynthia Hardy
Notre Dame Lawyer - 2018

Notre Dame Law School

INSIDE

Leading News

Dean Newton Steps Down

Briefs
- Off the Bench—Prominent judges visit ND Law School
- Law School improves Loan Repayment Assistance Program
- Galilee sees record participation
- ‘You are the hope’—ND Law hosts one of Church’s leading voices on race
- Program on Church, State & Society growing
- ‘Fighting for Fair Housing’—Law School hosts conference on Fair Housing Act of 1968
- ND alumni talk about Guantanamo detention facility
- Religious freedom moot court team wins in Italy
- Music lesson—The Slants rock McCartan Courtroom
- Commencement 2018
- Exoneration Project inspires law students
Profiles—A Different Kind of Lawyer
- A Bridge to Home—James Cheney ’18 J.D. wins housing case for local woman
- ‘I just wanted to bring them justice’—Kym Worthy ’84 J.D. wants to end the backlog of untested rape kits
- The law as a vocation—How ND inspired Matt Feeney ’79, ’83 J.D. to serve his community
Celebrating 50 Years of Notre Dame Law in London

Feature: Big Ideas—The expansion of ND Law’s intellectual property program is bearing fruit
- More courses, more opportunities
- Learning outside the classroom
- Protecting ideas, preparing students
- Strength in numbers
- Student entrepreneurs
Father Mike’s Law School Legacy Faculty News
- Barb Fick and Doug Cassel Retire
- Four new professors join the Law School
- ND Law hosts Judge Amy Barrett’s investiture
- Mark McKenna named John P. Murphy Foundation Professor
- Paul Miller appointed associate dean for international and graduate programs
- Stephen Yelderman earns tenure as professor of law
- ND Law School celebrates Randy Kozel’s new book
- Carter Snead elected Hastings Center Fellow
- Veronica Root awarded grant for ‘dignity of work’ project
- Avishalom Tor named Distinguished Fellow of ND Institute for Advanced Study
- Leading scholars gather to discuss Professor A.J. Bellia’s book
- Supreme Court takes note of Notre Dame Law scholars
- Remembering little things that matter A tribute to Justice Anthony Kennedy
Alumni Notes
- ‘The Black Hills are not for sale’
- Judge Williams joins Jones Day
- Double Domer featured in Netflix documentary
- Krieg DeVault elects new managing partner
- Four ND Lawyers appointed as U.S. attorneys
- Alum appointed to New Mexico Appeals Courts
- Alumni share expertise at NYU conference
- Young alumni rising in the academy
In Memoriam Lawyer's in love—The Class of 1981 formed a dozen married couples

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Notre Dame Lawyer - Fall 2017

Notre Dame Law School

Dean Nell Jessup Newton writes:

It is early October as I write this, and the fall semester is off to a great start. We have enrolled an outstanding group of first-year students, held a successful inaugural NDLS Homecoming Weekend, welcomed new faculty, launched some exciting new programs and, last but not least, welcomed the return of Notre Dame Lawyer magazine!
Notre Dame Lawyer - Spring 2013

Notre Dame Law School

New Faculty Hires

Generous Alumni Donors Fund Programs and Fellowships for Law Students

Global Approach. London Perspective.
NDLS Students See World Views Through London’s Eyes

The Framework
An Innovative New Program Focuses on Constitutional Structure

What Powers the Market
A New NDLS Research Program Looks at How the Law Shapes Market Behavior

Career Development
Supporting Students and Developing Careers
Notre Dame Lawyer - Spring 2012

Notre Dame Law School

REACHING OUT
Experiential Learning: Notre Dame Law Students Learn Beyond the Classroom

INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS EXTERNSHIPS A TEAM EFFORT

IP CLINIC COMES TO LIFE WITH NDLS SEED MONEY

CLINICAL LAW CENTER LAUNCHES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

J.S.D. Graduate Brought Real-World Experience to NDLS

PROFESSOR PATRICIA L. BELLIA: LOOKING OUT FOR THE WELFARE OF STUDENT-ATHLETES

NDLS TRIAL AND MOOT COURT TEAM REPORT

WorldWar II Grad Helps Homeless Vets

Scaling New Heights
Notre Dame Lawyer - Spring 2011

Notre Dame Law School

PREPARING FOR GLOBAL PRACTICE
A leader in international law education since 1968, NDLS is committed to preparing students for the accelerating pace of legal globalization.

A PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP
Students in the new Law and Economics Program interact with leading experts in law, economics, and business.

RENOVATED: BIOLCHINI HALL OF LAW

A DIFFERENT KIND OF LAWYER. A DIFFERENT KIND OF LAW LIBRARIAN.
Notre Dame Lawyer - Spring 2010

Notre Dame Law School

NAVIGATING YOUR CAREER
In today’s difficult hiring environment, the Career Services Office provides a robust network of people, programs, and support for ND Law students and grads seeking employment.

Free at Last
The Law School’s own Charlie Weiss, J.D. ’68, won freedom for a man wrongly convicted of murder.

GIVING BACK, PAYING IT FORWARD
The many contributions of Patrick A. Salvi ’78.

ALUMNUS Q & A
Double Domer Tom Fitzgerald, B.B.A. ’76, J.D. ’79, of Winston & Strawn in Chicago on today's legal market.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP
Notre Dame Lawyer - Summer 2009

Notre Dame Law School

Eck Hall of Law
After a semester of use, Eck Hall of Law has begun to feel like home. Here’s an inside look at the classrooms, courtroom, chapel, and all that makes Eck Hall a fabulous place to be.

Meet Nell Jessup Newton
She’s an accomplished scholar, professor, dean, volunteer, and advocate. Now she’s ours.

Paying Tribute to Dean O’Hara
This summer, Patricia A. O’Hara will end her tenure as dean of Notre Dame Law School after a decade at the helm. Members of the Law School community, and a current student express their gratitude and esteem for her many years of service and friendship.

Behind the Scenes
Professor William Kelley discusses his years at the White House, explains why he returned to Notre Dame, and gives a glimpse of his vision for the future of this Law School.

Bringing Down a Dictator
Retired Chilean Judge Juan Guzman will go down in history for investigating, indicting, and prosecuting Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. Guzman visited Notre Dame Law School and spoke to LL.M. students about his amazing career.
Notre Dame Lawyer - Fall 2008

Notre Dame Law School

Why Notre Dame Law School Matters
What is it that makes Notre Dame Law School uniquely qualified to transform good people into great lawyers? Our five newly promoted faculty members will share their perspectives.

$5 Million Law Fellowship Challenge
A bequest from the late Frank Eck, Sr. rallies Notre Dame Law School to raise $5 million, to be matched dollar-for-dollar for student fellowships.

Ximena MedellÀn: CCHR Postdoctoral Research Associate
This recent Notre Dame Law School LL.M. alum is making her mark fighting crimes against humanity in Latin America.

$15 Million Gift Paves Way for Renovation
The existing Law School will be transformed into Biolchini Hall thanks to a generous gift from its namesake, Robert F. Biolchini.

Commencement 2008

Reunion 2008