The University of Chicago Law School Federalist Society received the James Madison Chapter of the Year Award at the national organization’s annual student symposium that was hosted at Harvard Law School this spring. The last time the Chicago chapter won the award was in 2019.

The victory capped a very productive year for the Law School Federalist Society, characterized by robust efforts to enhance alumni engagement. The chapter launched several new initiatives, including an alumni mentorship program pairing members with alumni across the country, an alumni newsletter, and a student-focused professional development newsletter.

This year, the chapter also visited the Supreme Court of the United States. Thirty-four chapter members traveled to D.C. to meet with Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a visit facilitated by a Law School alum who had clerked with the Justice.

“Our chapter was honored to meet Justice Kavanaugh,” remarked Chicago Chapter President Tiffany Pages-Sanchez. “We were excited to participate in a quick meet-and-greet, but Justice Kavanaugh spent over an hour answering all our questions. Every student in attendance had the chance to ask him a question. It was an incredible experience. Our chapter is grateful for Justice Kavanaugh’s generosity.”

The Law School Federalist Society Chapter hosted nearly 50 lunch talks and welcomed 23 federal judges to campus over the last year. And as part of its efforts to foster debate and collaboration across the Law School, the chapter teamed up with seven other student organizations, including the American Constitution Society, the Texas Law Society, and the St. Thomas More Society, to host almost 15 co-sponsored events.

“UChicago is a special place,” said Pages-Sanchez. “We’re proud to belong to a law school where students and faculty are keen to engage with and debate the ideologically diverse speakers we host at our events. We’re also grateful for our alumni’s willingness to remain involved in our chapter; their strong engagement helped make this year a great success, especially as we launched the new mentorship program. We are particularly grateful for the continued involvement of Professor Todd Henderson, ’98; Adam Mortara, ’01; Solicitor General Eric Wessan,’19; Sarah Welch, ’19; Matt Pociask, ’20; and Sam Ellis, ’23.”

Todd Henderson, the Michael J. Marks Professor of Law and the chapter’s faculty director, expressed immense pride in the chapter's accomplishments. “The culture of our chapter is one of a passion for ideas, professionalism, flawless execution, and a deep commitment to the values of the Society. The student leaders are prodigious and exemplary.”

Henderson went on to quip, “I’m surprised they don’t win every year—I guess they need to spread it around.”