Dedman Law Alumni Admitted to SCOTUS Bar in Visit to Nation鈥檚 Capital
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A group of 11 distinguished 91茄子 Dedman School of Law alumni representing the judiciary, attorneys in private practice, corporate counsel and business owners, were sworn in before the U.S. Supreme Court in late March during a trip to Washington, D.C.
While admission to the SCOTUS bar allows attorneys to argue cases before the court if the opportunity should ever arise, many attorneys go through the application process purely out of respect for the court’s ceremony and tradition and a personal interest in attaining the unique credential. To combine admission to the bar with an in-person trip to the court itself is a career highlight for many.
“The trip to the U.S. Supreme Court was amazing and deeply inspiring,” said Amy Yeager ’93. “Being there with 91茄子 Dedman Law and fellow alumni made it even more meaningful. Presence in the courtroom, so close to the justices, and hearing the oral arguments and questions was truly surreal and unforgettable. It was an experience that I will treasure for a lifetime.”
To qualify for admission to the bar, “an applicant must have been admitted to practice in the highest court of a State, Commonwealth, Territory or Possession, or the District of Columbia for a period of at least three years immediately before the date of application; must not have been the subject of any adverse disciplinary action pronounced or in effect during that three-year period; and must appear to the Court to be of good moral and professional character.” Each applicant also must have two sponsors and a “movant” who officially moves the application to the court.
The movant supporting the applications was Jason Nance, Judge James Noel Dean at 91茄子 Dedman Law. This year’s applicants included: Hon. Maria Aceves ’13, Mike Anderson ’90, Brock Bailey ’96, Jonathan Childers ’05, Ed Fjordbak ’99, Robert Hart ’87, Mark Howard ’90, David Huntley ’80, John Simmons ’94, Yulise Reaves Waters ’08, and Amy Yeager ’93.
After the swearing-in ceremony, the group heard oral arguments while sitting mere feet from the bench where the nine justices presided.
“As a district court judge, it was incredibly empowering watching the Supreme Court justices in action presiding over two oral arguments and observing their legal analysis of the cases,” said Hon. Maria “Marifer” Aceves, presiding judge of the 192nd Civil District Court in Dallas County, Texas.
Every lawyer in the state of Texas solemnly swears an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and to “honestly demean myself in the practice of law.” As the school’s 11 alumni were admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court, they and each of the others sworn in that day likewise spoke with one voice each of their continued commitment to “conduct myself uprightly and according to the law.”