Students

The Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic is a teaching law practice that educates, forms, and prepares Notre Dame law students to become the rising generation of religious liberty leaders by training students in the practice of the law as they defend religious freedom for all people. Students work on a broad variety of legal matters to promote religious freedom on behalf of individuals and organizations of all beliefs.

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    Summer Abdelbarry

    Summer Abdelbarry

    Class of 2027

    Summer Abdelbarry is a third-year law student from Manasquan, New Jersey. She graduated from Villanova University, where she studied Economics and Humanities and was a member of the Presidential Scholars Program. At Notre Dame, Summer has been a member of the Middle Eastern Law Student Association, studied abroad through the London Law Programme, served as a research assistant for Associate Dean Bruce Huber, and is currently a member of the Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy. During her 1L summer, she was a judicial intern for Chief Judge Kelly Rankin of the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, and during her 2L summer, she worked as a summer associate at Jones Day’s New York office. After graduation, Summer will clerk for Chief Judge Kelly H. Rankin on the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming and the Honorable Timothy M. Tymkovich on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit before returning to Jones Day.

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    Josh Arsulowicz

    Josh Arsulowicz

    Class of 2027

    Josh Arsulowicz is a third-year law student from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a B.B.A. in Supply Chain Management and Finance. At Notre Dame, Josh has served on the boards of the Business Law Forum and Transactional Law Society, externed at William Blair’s Chicago office, and worked as a student ambassador for the Law School’s Admissions Office. During both his 1L and 2L summers, he worked as a summer associate at Miller Johnson’s Grand Rapids office. After graduation, Josh will return to Miller Johnson as an associate.

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    Stephanie Athanas

    Stephanie Athanas

    Class of 2027

    Stephanie Athanas is a third-year law student from Wadsworth, Illinois. She earned a B.A. in Education from Arizona State University and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University. Before law school, Stephanie worked as a physical therapist, opened a private practice, and worked in Health, Safety, and Environment at BlackRock in New York City. At Notre Dame, she serves as president of the St. Thomas More Society and is a Church, State & Society Fellow. During her 1L summer, Stephanie worked at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and participated in the J. Reuben Clark Law Society’s Religious Liberty Fellowship. During her 2L summer, she interned with the in-house labor and employment counsel at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

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    John Burke

    John Burke

    Class of 2027

    John Burke is a third-year law student from St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in the Program of Liberal Studies and Economics. He spent two years in Washington, D.C., before returning to Notre Dame for law school. He is a Polking Fellow with the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture and a member of the Federalist Society, Jus Vitae, and the St. Thomas More Society. During his 1L summer, he was a summer associate at Consovoy McCarthy, PLLC, and during his 2L summer, he was a summer associate at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, both in Washington, D.C.

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    Thomas Constant

    Thomas Constant

    Class of 2028

    Thomas Constant is a second-year law student from near Akron, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame, where he studied Philosophy. At Notre Dame Law School, Thomas is a staff editor on the Notre Dame Law Review and a research assistant to Professor Derek Muller. During his 1L summer, he interned for Judge Christy Wiegand on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and during his 2L summer, he will work at Jones Day in Cleveland. After graduation, Thomas will clerk for Judge Ben M. Flowers on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

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    Joseph Donnelly

    Joseph Donnelly

    Class of 2027

    Joseph Donnelly is a third-year law student from Charles Town, West Virginia. He graduated from Regent University with a B.A. in Government and, before law school, worked for three years as a legal assistant for Alliance Defending Freedom. At Notre Dame, Joseph serves as vice president of the Moot Court Board and holds leadership roles with the Federalist Society and Jus Vitae. He is also a staff editor for the Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy. During his 1L summer, Joseph worked in the Montana Attorney General’s Office, and during his 2L summer, he worked as a law clerk at the New Civil Liberties Alliance. After graduation, Joseph will clerk for Judge Liam Hardy on the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in 2027–2028 and for Judge Sarah Pitlyk on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in 2028–2029.

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    Caroline Flannery

    Caroline Flannery

    Class of 2028

    Caroline Flannery is a second-year law student from Chappaqua, New York. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Political Science and Theology and a minor in History. At Notre Dame, she serves as a staff editor for the Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy and is a member of the St. Thomas More Society. She also serves as an Assistant Rector in Ryan Hall. During her 1L summer, she was a summer law clerk for Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker in New York City on their employment practices liability team.

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    Hayden Girard

    Hayden Girard

    Class of 2028

    Hayden Girard is a second-year law student from Manhasset, New York. Before law school, he attended Binghamton University, where he studied Philosophy, Politics, and Law. At Notre Dame, Hayden is the secretary of Jus Vitae and a staff editor on the Journal of Law, Ethics, and Public Policy. During his 1L summer, he worked at Americans United for Life in Washington, D.C., where he assisted the organization’s legal team with litigation.

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    Steven Henderson

    Steven Henderson

    Class of 2027

    Steven Henderson is a third-year law student from Madison, Alabama. He graduated from Liberty University with a B.S. in Public Policy. He worked as a political consultant across the Southeast and spent time in the defense industry before entering law school. At Notre Dame, Steven is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of International and Comparative Law and has served as both a brief writer and an oralist on the Notre Dame Moot Court Board. He spent his 1L and 2L summers as a summer associate at Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP in its Nashville office and will be joining the firm as a business litigation associate after graduation.

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    Elizabeth Holland

    Elizabeth Holland

    Class of 2028

    Elizabeth Holland is a second-year law student who grew up in Virginia and North Carolina. Before entering law school, she earned her Bachelor of Science in International Politics from Georgetown University and served as a legal assistant at Alliance Defending Freedom. At Notre Dame, she serves as a staff editor for the Journal of Law, Ethics, and Public Policy and the treasurer of the Christian Legal Society. She spent her 1L summer at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC.

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    David Jordan

    David Jordan

    Class of 2027

    David Jordan is a third-year law student from Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from The Ohio State University, where he studied Public Affairs and Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. At Notre Dame, David is a Murphy Fellow, an executive print editor for the Notre Dame Law Review, and a teaching assistant in the Department of Political Science. During his 1L summer, he interned for Judge Damon R. Leichty on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, and during his 2L summer, he worked at Jones Day in Cleveland. After graduation, David will clerk for Judge Eric E. Murphy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

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    Kelly Klein

    Kelly Klein

    Class of 2028

    Kelly Klein is a second-year law student from Newark, Delaware. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.B.A. in Accounting and a minor in Constitutional Studies. At Notre Dame, Kelly is a member of the Women’s Legal Forum and will serve as an external relations chair for the St. Thomas More Society. During the summer of 2026, she worked as a law clerk at Zarwin Baum DeVito Kaplan Schaer, P.C., in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She currently plans to return to Zarwin Baum for her 2L summer.

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    Catherine Kolesar

    Catherine Kolesar

    Class of 2027

    Catherine Kolesar is a third-year law student from Bethesda, Maryland. She graduated from Villanova University with a B.A. in Political Science. At Notre Dame, Catherine serves as the executive managing editor of the Notre Dame Law Review and as a research assistant for Professor Meredith Kessler. She is also a Murphy Fellow with Notre Dame Law School’s Program on Church, State & Society. During her 1L summer, Catherine worked at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty in Washington, D.C., and during her 2L summer, she worked at Kirkland & Ellis in Washington, D.C. After graduation, Catherine will clerk for the Honorable Andrew L. Brasher on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

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    Matthew Krauter

    Matthew Krauter

    Class of 2028

    Matthew Krauter is a second-year law student from Darien, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign magna cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science. Matthew then worked in D.C. for three years as a paralegal at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. At Notre Dame, he serves as a staff editor for the Notre Dame Law Review and is the academic affairs director of the Federalist Society. Since his 1L summer, Matthew has also worked as a research assistant to Professors Nicole Garnett and John Meiser.

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    Oliver McNay

    Oliver McNay

    Class of 2028

    Oliver McNay is a second-year law student from Houston, Texas. He earned his B.A. with High Distinction from McGill University in 2024, with a joint major in Anthropology and International Development. Before law school, Oliver worked in refugee resettlement in Houston with Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, Catholic Charities of Galveston-Houston, and Refugee Services of Texas. During his 1L summer, he worked as a summer associate at Jones Day in Houston. At Notre Dame, Oliver is an associate editor on the Journal on Emerging Technologies and an assistant rector in Sorin College.

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    Josie Medill

    Josie Medill

    Class of 2027

    Josie Medill is a third-year law student from Lincoln, Nebraska. She graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy, summa cum laude, with a Minor in French. As a first-year law student at Notre Dame, she received the Best Brief Award from the Moot Court Board Brief Writer Selection Committee and served on the Moot Court Board during her second year. Josie worked as a summer associate at Fraser Stryker in Omaha, Nebraska, and Baty Otto Scheer in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduation, she will return to Baty Otto Scheer as an associate specializing in civil defense litigation.

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    Jennifer Merkley

    Jennifer Merkley

    Class of 2027

    Jennifer Merkley is a third-year law student from St. Anthony, Indiana. She graduated from Indiana University East with degrees in Psychology and Political Science. At Notre Dame, Jennifer is an articles editor on the Notre Dame Law Review and serves as communications director of the Jus Vitae Society. During her 1L summer, she worked as a research assistant for Professor Robert Leider, and during her 2L summer, she worked in the Appeals Division of the Indiana Attorney General’s Office. After graduation, Jennifer will clerk for Judge Lindsey Freeman in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

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    Grace Messemer

    Grace Messemer

    Class of 2028

    Grace Messemer is a second-year law student from Orlando, Florida. She graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in Economics and Political Science. Prior to law school, she spent two years working at the Supreme Court of the United States. At Notre Dame, Grace is a Murphy Fellow for the Program on Church, State & Society, a staff editor of the Notre Dame Law Review, and secretary of the Federalist Society. During her 1L summer, she worked at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. After graduation, Grace will clerk for the Honorable John B. Nalbandian on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

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    Isaac Michael

    Isaac Michael

    Class of 2028

    Isaac Michael is a second-year law student from Indianapolis, Indiana. He studied philosophy at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, where he worked for the Center for Constitutional Liberty and competed on the Moot Court team at the regional and national levels. He is a staff editor for the Notre Dame Law Review, a spiritual chair for the St. Thomas More Society, and a 2L representative for the Federalist Society. During his 1L summer, he interned in the chambers of Judge S. Kyle Duncan on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. After graduation, he will clerk for Chief Judge William H. Pryor, Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

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    Stella Ross

    Stella Ross

    Class of 2028

    Stella Ross is a second-year law student from Birmingham, Alabama. She graduated from Wake Forest University with a B.A. with Honors in Philosophy. While at Wake Forest, Stella served as a voting member of the university’s Board of Trustees. Before law school, she worked in Washington, D.C., in the U.S. House of Representatives and at BGR Group. During her 1L summer, Stella served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Eleni M. Roumel of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. At Notre Dame, she is a staff editor for the Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy.

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    Babak Salimitari

    Babak Salimitari

    Class of 2027

    Babak Salimitari is a third-year law student from Orange County, California. He earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of California, Irvine. At Notre Dame, Babak has served as treasurer of both the Middle Eastern Law Students Association and the Jewish Law Students Association. During his summers, he has worked in both private and public practice in family law, including at a local litigation firm in California and at the Department of Homeland Security.

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    Thomas Schacht

    Thomas Schacht

    Class of 2027

    Thomas Schacht is a third-year law student from Indianapolis, Indiana. He received his B.A. in History from Yale University and his M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge. Before law school, he spent two years working in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his 1L summer, Thomas worked at the New Civil Liberties Alliance, and during his 2L summer, he worked at Kirkland & Ellis, both in Washington, D.C. At Notre Dame, he serves as president of the Federalist Society, managing online editor for the Journal of Law, Ethics, and Public Policy, and has worked as a research assistant for Professors Sadie Blanchard and William Kamin. After graduation, Thomas will clerk for Chief Judge Matthew H. Solomson of the Court of Federal Claims and then for Judge A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

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    Aleah Schrock

    Aleah Schrock

    Class of 2027

    Aleah Schrock is a third-year law student who grew up in eastern Ohio. She earned her B.A. in History from Liberty University and, before law school, served as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Malta. At Notre Dame, Aleah serves as the executive editor of the Notre Dame Law Review and is a member of the Christian Legal Society. During her 2L summer, she worked in the Columbus and Washington, D.C., offices of Jones Day. After graduation, Aleah will clerk for Judge Stephanos Bibas on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and Judge Benjamin Beaton in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.

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    Ambrose Shaughnessy

    Ambrose Shaughnessy

    Class of 2027

    Ambrose Shaughnessy is a third-year law student from Cimarron, Kansas. He graduated from Benedictine College with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. Before law school, Ambrose worked as an automation control systems engineer in Kansas City. At Notre Dame, he is a member of the St. Thomas More Society, a community editor for the Journal of Law, Ethics, and Public Policy, and a J.L. Weigand, Jr. Notre Dame Legal Education Scholar. During his 1L summer, Ambrose interned for Judge Holly L. Teeter of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, and during his 2L summer, he worked at Shook, Hardy & Bacon in Kansas City. After graduation, Ambrose will clerk for Judge Jeffrey M. Kuhlman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

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    Jacob Sousa

    Jacob Sousa

    Class of 2028

    Jacob Sousa is a second-year law student from Rochester, New York. He graduated cum laude from the University of Rochester in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. At Notre Dame, Jacob was a member of the inaugural class of the Dean’s Initiative for Leadership and Scholarly Excellence and serves as a staff editor for the Journal of Law, Ethics, and Public Policy and as president of the First Generation Professionals Society. During his 1L summer, he interned at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.

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    Mary Elizabeth Stern

    Mary Elizabeth Stern

    Class of 2027

    Mary Elizabeth Stern is a third-year law student from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in the Program of Liberal Studies and a minor in Constitutional Studies. During her 1L summer, Mary Elizabeth interned for the Honorable John Kness of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and during her 2L summer, she interned at Sullivan & Cromwell. At Notre Dame, she serves as a brief writer for the Moot Court Board, senior symposium editor of the Notre Dame Law Review, and Religious Freedom Tournament Prompt Chair. After graduation, Mary Elizabeth will return to Sullivan & Cromwell in Washington, D.C., before clerking for the Honorable Joshua Dunlap of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the Honorable Richard Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

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    Kevin Stucker

    Kevin Stucker

    Class of 2027

    Kevin Stucker is a third-year law student from Franklin, Indiana. He graduated from Hillsdale College summa cum laude with a degree in economics. Prior to law school, Kevin worked for Hillsdale College and was a fellow with the John Jay Institute. At Notre Dame, Kevin is the executive online editor of the Notre Dame Law Review. During his 1L summer, Kevin worked in the office of Indiana Senator Jim Banks. During his 2L summer, Kevin worked as an associate for Boyden Gray & Associates in Washington, D.C. After graduation, he will clerk for Judge Justin R. Olson of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and Judge Benjamin M. Flowers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

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    Christia Sullins

    Christia Sullins

    Class of 2027

    Christia Sullins is a third-year law student from Northern California. She graduated from UC San Diego with degrees in International Studies: Political Science and Japanese Studies. Following graduation, Christia spent one year teaching English in Japan and then worked for two years as a paralegal. During her 1L summer, she was a research assistant for Professor Marah McLeod. During her 2L summer, she was a summer associate at Jones Day in Orange County. Christia is a member of Jus Vitae and the St. Thomas More Society and serves as vice president for speakers for the Federalist Society.

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    Mary Clare Theis

    Mary Clare Theis

    Class of 2028

    Mary Clare Theis is a second-year law student from East Lansing, Michigan. She earned a B.A. in Exercise Science on the pre-med track from Hope College. She then joined Teach For America, where she taught high school math in Indianapolis Public Schools and earned a Master’s in Teaching. Before law school, she also worked as a data specialist for Alliance Defending Freedom’s Blackstone Legal Fellowship. During her 1L summer, Mary Clare worked as a law clerk on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee for Senator Mike Lee. At Notre Dame, she is a Murphy Fellow, the treasurer of the Federalist Society, the vice president of Jus Vitae, the treasurer of Legal Voices for Children, and a staff editor of the Notre Dame Law Review. After graduation, Mary Clare will clerk for the Honorable Joan L. Larsen on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.