The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law is pleased to announce Trevor Paul, Texas A&M University School of Law, as the runner-up in the Second Annual CSL Prize in Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing competition held in conjunction with the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference which was held February 24-26, 2022.

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.

Paul will clerk for Judge Mark T. Pittman of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas for the 2022-2023 term.

Paul recently reflected on the importance of a conference like the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference. He shared, “The conference was incredible. It was truly an honor to learn from some of our country’s most esteemed judges and a pleasure to be surrounded by so many talented students.” He continued, “It is a boost of confidence heading into my clerkship. But most importantly, it reminds me of just how grateful I am for all the people and opportunities that have taken my writing to where it is now.”

Paul concluded, “I want to thank the Catholic School of Law and Professor Harmon for putting on this conference.”