Notre Dame Law Professor Paul B. Miller's scholarship was cited by Justice Clarence Thomas in his concurring opinion in Sripetch v. Securities and Exchange Commission, issued on June 4.

The case examined whether the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may obtain disgorgement—a remedy requiring wrongdoers to surrender profits gained through unlawful conduct—without proving that investors suffered financial losses. The Supreme Court held that the SEC is not required to show pecuniary harm to investors before seeking disgorgement. In a concurring opinion, Justice Thomas agreed with the Court's decision but argued that disgorgement should be understood as a legal, rather than equitable, remedy under the relevant statute. In support of his analysis, Justice Thomas cited “Getting Into Equity,” a paper co-authored by Miller and Professor Samuel Bray of the University of Chicago Law School that examines the nature of equity and how litigants plead for equitable relief given that it is exceptional in nature relative to legal redress.

In “Getting Into Equity,” Miller and Bray argue that equity is organized around petitions for relief rather than causes of action. Justice Thomas cited the paper in his discussion of the distinction between legal and equitable remedies.

Miller is the Robert and Marion Short Professor of Law and Associate Dean for International & Graduate Programs at Notre Dame Law School, where he also serves as director of the Notre Dame Program on Private Law. He is a private law theorist whose work focuses on general jurisprudence as well as philosophical questions in equity, fiduciary law, trust law, agency, and corporate law.

It was this time in Seoul that Dean Cole believes drove him to train what he calls "Matthew 25 lawyers" at Notre Dame Law School. "At Notre Dame, we seek universal truth through our research. We seek to change lives through teaching and student formation, and we seek to serve God through service to others."

Read his full remarks here

Joseph Reilly, a rising third-year student at Notre Dame Law School, has been selected to receive the Peter A.R. Lardy Scholarship Award for the 2026-27 academic year.

The Lardy Scholarship Award was established by the Notre Dame Law Class of 1975 to honor their beloved classmate Peter A.R. Lardy, who died of cancer during his third year of law school. The award is presented annually to a rising third-year Notre Dame Law student “who exemplifies his courage, love, and understanding toward his fellow man,” and includes substantial tuition assistance for the recipient’s third year of law school.

“It’s very humbling,” said Reilly on receiving the award. “Reading the description that the Class of 1975 wrote about Peter Lardy made me think, ‘What an incredible, kind person.’ The fact that my classmates, peers, and other people in the Law School community saw enough of that description reflected in their interactions with me was really a wonderful affirmation of how I’m trying to interact with the world around me and support my peers as we all struggle with this challenging endeavor.”

Each year, only one recipient is selected from several nominations submitted by members of the Law School community. “There are many deserving people that I was really pleased to see as nominees on the list,” Reilly added.

Reilly was repeatedly praised in nominations for his commitment to public service and his influence as a leader and mentor within the Law School community, particularly among first-year law students.

“Joseph Reilly is an excellent person who exemplifies all of the qualities of this scholarship,” wrote a recent graduate of the Law School. “He cares deeply about the student body and the community. His dedication to public service is commendable, and he embodies what being a ‘different kind of lawyer’ is.”

One student shared, “Joseph has a focus on public interest work and is one of the most sought-after resources for 1Ls who are interested in similar work and want assistance in the process of pursuing summer placements or are seeking general advice.”

Several statements of support from fellow students also spoke to Reilly’s deep commitment to his Catholic faith.

“Joseph's faith is apparent when interacting with him; he does not loudly proclaim his beliefs for all to hear, but instead embodies them through his actions in a way that words often fail to capture,” wrote one student. “While I may not be one of Joseph's closest friends, he is the first person I thought of when considering individuals that match Peter Lardy's qualities.”

“If the late Peter Lardy was a man of deep faith, friendly humor, and a kind heart, there is no one at our law school who fits that description more than Joseph Reilly,” said another student.

After growing up in Noblesville, Indiana, Reilly graduated from Wabash College in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. While at Wabash, he served as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, through which he learned the importance of building a community where people could find meaning in their work while also supporting one another. He then served as an AmeriCorps volunteer at Bethlehem Farm, a Catholic community in Alderson, West Virginia, that practices living sustainably and providing low-income home repair service to its local community. Reilly later worked as a legal assistant at the United Community Housing Coalition in Detroit, Michigan, a tenant defense non-profit organization.

His interest in law was further shaped by a talk at Wabash featuring the former director of Indiana Legal Services, which broadened his vision of what a legal career might look like. After working for a few years, Reilly chose to attend Notre Dame Law School, drawn in part by the supportive and collaborative culture he encountered during the admissions process.

“In talking to several students during the application process,” he said, “the sincerity they spoke about the cordiality of the student body was something intentionally focused on. It’s true that people are supportive of each other. Every student I spoke to said that there’s an atmosphere like, ‘We’re in this together, and we’re not competing with each other.’”

Reilly has helped cultivate that sense of cordiality at the Law School, where he has been deeply engaged as a student leader. This coming academic year, he will serve as president of the American Constitution Society (ACS) after previously serving as treasurer and 1L representative. He will also be a notes editor for the Notre Dame Journal on Emerging Technologies. This past year, he was secretary of the Public Interest Law Forum.

“He has been a leader in ACS and the public interest community since stepping onto campus last year, and he has worked hard this year to ensure that 1Ls can feel at home and included here, regardless of their background,” said one student. “Joseph is truly representative of all of the qualities of the Lardy Memorial Scholarship. He is a friend to all, works to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment, and has a heart for justice.”

His dedication to justice is demonstrated through the externships he has pursued, which have formed a core part of Reilly’s journey at Notre Dame Law School. He has pursued the Public Defender Externship with the St. Joseph County Public Defender Office, the Public Interest Externship with Indiana Legal Services, and the Appalachia Externship during spring break. For Reilly, completing the Public Interest Externship with Indiana Legal Services felt like a “full circle moment” after hearing the organization’s former director speak at Wabash.

Reilly has been generous in mentoring fellow law students and sharing his knowledge of public interest work and externships. “I genuinely feel that Joseph has been my best resource since arriving at Notre Dame Law School, and I know that he is deserving of this scholarship,” wrote one student. “After a brief conversation in the Commons during the first week of school, Joseph made sure to approach me seemingly whenever we were in close proximity. Resultingly, I felt abundantly comfortable in approaching him with questions regarding how to structure cover letters for public interest offices, what courses to sign up for, and how to approach externships and clinics.”

Another student noted Reilly's regular "Where I'll Be" e-mails, which invite classmates to activities ranging from Farmers Market visits to ice skating outings and help foster a sense of community among his law school class.

That same commitment to serving others has shaped the professional experiences he has pursued throughout law school. This summer, Reilly is working with the Legal Aid of Western Michigan as a summer law clerk. During his 1L summer, he worked as a judicial intern to the Honorable Terrence G. Berg in the Eastern District of Michigan.

As he prepares for his third year at Notre Dame Law School, Reilly continues to exemplify the compassion, humility, and service that define the Lardy Scholarship Award.

You can view a full list of past Lardy Scholarship Award recipients here.

Gabriel Powell

The Colonel William J. Hoynes Award

Named after Notre Dame Law School’s first dean, the Hoynes Award is the Law School’s highest academic honor. It is given to a graduating student who displays outstanding scholarship, application, deportment, and achievement.

Gabriel Powell served as a staff editor for Volume 100 and the managing articles editor for Volume 101 of the Notre Dame Law Review. He was also a member of the Notre Dame Federalist Society and served as president during his 3L year. During his 2L year, along with his partner Tom MacPhee, he won first place in the Law School's inaugural Justice Amy Coney Barrett Moot Court Tournament.

During his 1L summer, Gabriel worked at Consovoy McCarthy PLLC, and during his 2L summer he was a summer associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in Washington, D.C.

Gabriel earned six Honor Roll distinctions and nine Faculty Awards for Excellence, and was a member of the Dean’s Circle for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years. He also received the Patricia O’Hara Scholarship and Leadership Award.

He received his undergraduate degree from Hillsdale College.

This fall, Gabriel will serve as a law clerk for Judge William H. Pryor, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, followed by a clerkship with Judge Amul R. Thapar of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Yuta Inada

The Dean Joseph O'Meara Award

The Notre Dame Law School Class of 1964 established the Dean Joseph O'Meara Award to annually recognize a member of the graduating class for outstanding academic achievement.

Yuta Inada served on the Notre Dame Law Review as a staff editor for Volume 100 and as a senior online editor for Volume 101. He was involved in the Notre Dame Global Human Rights Clinic, the International Law Society, and the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA).

During his 1L summer Yuta participated in a legal internship with the Notre Dame Global Human Rights Clinic and spent his 2L summer at Latham & Watkins in Chicago.

Yuta earned four Honor Roll distinctions and four Faculty Awards for Excellence. He was a member of the Dean’s Circle for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years. He received the Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Program of Study in Business Law, the Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Program of Study in Global Law, and the Patricia O’Hara Scholarship and Leadership Award. He also received the Alison T. Dang Service Award at the APALSA Gala in March 2026.

He completed his bachelor of laws degree from Hitotsubashi University in Kunitachi, Japan.

Yuta will join Latham & Watkins this fall as an associate.

Zachary Pearson

The Farabaugh Prize

First awarded in 1927, the Farabaugh Prize was established by Gallitzin A. Farabaugh, a local South Bend attorney, and meant to recognize a member of the graduating class who displays high scholarship in law.

Zachary Pearson served on the Notre Dame Law Review as the executive managing editor for Volume 101 and as a staff editor for Volume 100. He was a teaching assistant for Professor Jacqueline Liedl's Legal Writing I & II courses in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, a student fellow in the Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic, and a de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture Polking Fellow. Zach was also a member of the law school's rock band, the Learned Hand Formula.

During his 1L summer Zach worked at Consovoy McCarthy PLLC in Washington, D.C. and was a summer associate in Jones Day's Washington, D.C. office during his 2L summer.

Zach earned six Honor Roll distinctions and four Faculty Awards for Excellence, and was a member of the Dean’s Circle for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years.

He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame.

This fall, Zach will clerk for Judge Julius Richardson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Each semester, Notre Dame Law School welcomes a number of visiting faculty from institutions around the world. These international visitors make impactful contributions to the Notre Dame Law School community as they enrich the classroom with their diverse legal perspectives.

The visiting faculty each semester are a core part of Notre Dame Law School’s Global Lawyering Initiative. These visits foster meaningful academic exchange, creating opportunities for collaboration between Notre Dame Law School faculty and students and leading scholars from around the world. Their contributions include teaching courses, serving as guest lecturers, and presenting their own research while at Notre Dame Law School. This spring, the Law School welcomed visitors from England, Italy, South Africa, Brazil, Switzerland, Chile, and Ukraine.

The highlights below provide more information about each global visitor’s impactful contributions and experiences during their time here at Notre Dame Law School.

Mark Hill KC

Home Affiliation: King’s Counsel and Barrister, FTB Chambers; Notre Dame London Law Programme, London, England

Hill is a Global Distinguished Professor of Law at the Notre Dame London Law Programme, and during his semester at Notre Dame Law School taught the 1-credit course “International Religious Liberty.” Additionally, he delivered a talk on the topic of “Religious Courts and Tribunals.”

Enrico Basile

Home Affiliation: Bocconi Law School, Milan, Italy

Basile taught the 1-credit course “White-Collar Crime & Financial Markets” during this past spring semester at Notre Dame Law School. He also presented his research paper to Notre Dame Law LL.M. and J.S.D. students, titled, “Unicorn Is the New White(-Collar Crime).”

Matt Dyson

Home Affiliation: University of Oxford, Oxford, England

During his visit this semester, Dyson delivered the talk “Comparative Law: two shocking claims that might just be right" to the Notre Dame Law community. He also presented his research paper “Understanding Illegal Tort Claims,” a chapter from an upcoming book publication, to Notre Dame Law faculty and LL.M. and J.S.D. students, and further spoke to students in Professor Marah Stith McLeod’s Criminal Law course.

Gaopalelwe Mathiba

Home Affiliation: University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

This spring, Mathiba became the first ever exchange faculty member from the University of Cape Town. During his visit to Notre Dame Law School, Mathiba spoke to students in Professor Bruce Huber’s Property Law course. He also conducted research for a chapter of a book which will be included in a volume that Professor Huber is co-editing, titled, The Politics of Environmental Law. The volume is an addition to Edward Elgar's series of Handbooks in Law and Politics. Mathiba also spoke to the students in Professor David Pruitt’s Eviction Clinic during his time here.

Rafael Scavone Bellem de Lima

Home Affiliation: Insper, São Paulo, Brazil

Scavone Bellem de Lima taught the 1-credit course “Constitutional Justice In Brazil” during his time at Notre Dame Law School. He also delivered a talk on the topic of “Religious Freedom in the Jurisprudence of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court.” Furthermore, Scavone Bellem de Lima presented a research paper to Notre Dame Law LL.M. and J.S.D. students, titled, “Preemptive Decision-Making in Judicial Review.” Scavone Bellem de Lima marked the first ever exchange faculty member from Insper this past semester.

Andrea Simoncini

Home Affiliation: University of Florence, Florence, Italy

Simoncini co-taught the “Law and Technology” seminar with Professor Paolo Carozza this spring. He also appeared as a panelist in the Notre Dame Law panel discussion, “Comparative Regulatory Approaches to AI: US and EU.” Simoncini is a Nanovic Institute for European Studies Research Fellow, a Kellogg Visiting Fellow, and a Kellogg Distinguished Research Affiliate.

Rodrigo Rodriguez

Home Affiliation: University of Lucerne Faculty of Law, Lucerne, Switzerland

This spring, Rodriguez presented to Notre Dame Law LL.M. and J.S.D. students on the enforcement of human rights regulations on international businesses—both successes and challenges—within the European Union.

Adolfo Andres Wegmann Stockebrand

Home Affiliation: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

Andres Wegmann Stockebrand delivered a Lunch-and-Learn talk in which he discussed the values of using comparative methodology in the field of legal history, and what legal history offers as a discipline to the profession of law generally. He also presented research findings to Notre Dame Law faculty and LL.M. and J.S.D. students on the Roman foundations of Contract Law.

Josephine van Zeben

Home Affiliation: European University Institute - Florence Transnational School of Governance, Florence, Italy

Van Zeben taught the 1-credit course “International Environmental Law” this past semester. She also delivered a talk with Professor Bruce Huber on the current state of climate law and policy in the United States and European Union during an event co-hosted by the Environmental Law Society and International and Graduate Programs.

Khrystyna Kovtsun

Home Affiliation: Ukrainian Catholic University, Lviv, Ukraine

Kovtsun met with students in Professor Caleb Stone’s Veterans Law Clinic to discuss Ukrainian Catholic University’s (UCU) clinical activities and veterans law in Ukraine compared to the United States, and to learn about clinical work at Notre Dame Law School. Kovtsun also delivered a presentation to Notre Dame Law faculty and students on UCU’s clinic, focusing on the pedagogical value of service-work and the role that clinics can play in Catholic universities.

Giuseppe Portonera

Home Affiliation: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Milan, Milan, Italy

During his time at Notre Dame Law School, Portonera conducted independent research in consultation with Professor Paul Miller and Notre Dame private law faculty. Portonera was a fellow-in-residence of the Notre Dame Law School Program on Private Law during his time here. He additionally presented the research project, “Unjust Enrichment in the Digital Age,” for students and private law faculty at the conclusion of his research stay.

Eight Notre Dame J.S.D. candidates—Nicolás Buitrago-Rey, Portia Chigbu, Gvantsa Dolbaia, Juan Carlos Gazmuri, Felipe Lyon Errazuriz, Vitaliy Kosovych, Angel Muñoz-Carpintero, and Valentina Salazar—had the opportunity to present at the 2026 J.S.D. roundtable hosted by the American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., this spring. The National Roundtable brings together S.J.D. and J.S.D. candidates at all stages of their academic programs to present their research, engage with fellow scholars, and foster meaningful connections within legal education and academia.

Nicolás Buitrago-Rey’s presentation was titled “Converging Truth and Justice: The Role of Colombia’s Truth Commission Final Report in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace.” His research, supported by the Legacy Project Internal Grant of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, employs a qualitative analysis of how the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) has used the Colombian Truth Commission (CEV) Final Report, and how the CEV considered the JEP decisions before releasing its final report in 2022.

“Engaging with other J.S.D. and S.J.D. students from several law schools in the United States allowed me to engage with discussion on transitional justice and peace accords across several jurisdictions,” said Buitrago-Rey. “I am very grateful to the International and Graduate Programs of Notre Dame Law School for supporting all of us in sharing our research in the J.S.D. Roundtable.”

Portia Chigbu’s presentation, titled “Dignity in Difference: Recognizing Differentiated Needs in Disaster Response and Recovery,” argued that disaster response and recovery must move beyond treating affected populations as homogeneous by recognizing their differentiated needs. Grounded in human dignity, she shows that meaningful recovery requires context-sensitive approaches that reflect how people experience disasters differently.

“Presenting alongside other J.S.D. students fostered meaningful interdisciplinary dialogue and provided an opportunity to connect with and learn from peers across different fields,” said Chigbu.

Gvantsa Dolbaia’s presentation, titled “Saving the Truth: Restraining Disinformation through International Law,” closely followed her doctoral research on situating the right to true information at the heart of international law against the backdrop of increasing disinformation epidemics.

“The J.S.D. Roundtable was a unique chance for doctoral candidates studying at the U.S. law schools to share their research interests and preliminary findings, give and receive constructive feedback, and refine the research routes. Above all, the connections I made with other J.S.D. students who are working on related topics offer a fantastic opportunity to design future collaborations,” said Dolbaia. “I am very grateful for the support received from the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights and the faculty and staff of Notre Dame Law School.”

Juan Carlos Gazmuri’s presentation was titled “Constitutionalism and Political Parties in the Face of Democratic Backsliding.” His research examined the tools constitutional design can use to promote party systems that foster democratic resilience and prevent democratic backsliding.

“Receiving feedback from my J.S.D. colleagues was a unique opportunity to enrich my research,” said Gazmuri. “It was very rewarding to see J.S.D. students from around the world engage in fruitful and insightful discussions.”

Felipe Lyon Errazuriz’s presentation was titled “Responsibility of Tech Companies on the Free Speech Environment: A Fundamental Duties Perspective.” His research seeks a legal framework to protect human dignity in the face of current challenges posed by AI and the digital world, focusing on tech companies' responsibility to prevent and repair defamation and other harmful distortions of the truth.

“We were able to show our research, connect with peers doing similar work, and engage in cutting-edge debates in our areas of scholarship. I thank the AUWCL for putting this event together, and the International and Graduate Programs for supporting us,” Lyon Errazuriz said. “This was also a chance for the J.S.D. program to test the level of our academic community. I was glad to see everyone thrive and rise to the occasion."

Vitaliy Kosovych’s presentation was titled “Protecting Human Rights in Informal Economies: European Fight Against Child Labour.” His research examined how European regional law and policy detect, prevent, and remediate child labor occurring in informal and hidden economic settings. Focusing on the distinct normative architectures of the Council of Europe and the European Union, the project analyzes how their frameworks conceptualize child labor in unregistered family enterprises and concealed supply chains, and how regional jurisprudence generates positive state obligations and procedural safeguards in low-visibility contexts. By refining European regulatory techniques, the research aims to advance actionable reforms to strengthen child protection where exploitation is most likely to remain hidden.

“Attending and presenting at the 2026 National S.J.D. Roundtable at American University Washington College of Law was an exceptionally rewarding experience. The thoughtful feedback I received significantly sharpened my research, and the exchange with fellow J.S.D. candidates was both intellectually stimulating and motivating,” said Kosovych. “I greatly valued the opportunity to present my work in such a collegial and rigorous academic setting. The discussions not only deepened my perspective but also fostered meaningful connections that I look forward to continuing beyond the conference.”

Ángel Muñoz-Carpintero’s presentation, titled “The Rule of Law and Militarism: The Remilitarization of Central America,” explored the novel notion of legal militarism, which, argues Muñoz-Carpintero, can help explain the negative impacts of militarism on rule of law systems, and, therefore on democracy, human rights, and justice. Through his research, Muñoz-Carpintero aims to understand how the law can become a tool to further militarism in the region, resulting in strategic and legal impunity of serious violations of human rights.

“The National S.J.D. Roundtable was an excellent space to share my ideas, put them to test, and dialogue with other young and emerging legal scholars from all over the world,” said Muñoz-Carpintero.

Valentina Salazar’s presentation, titled “Rights Revisited: A Theory of Precedent for the Inter-American Court of Human Rights? Chapter II: The Inter-American Court Under Scrutiny,” showed the need for strategies that secure the Court’s transformative contributions on the ground and help to face the challenges regarding its legitimacy. Particularly, it exposed how the preparatory work of the American Convention of Human Rights justifies the authority of the Inter-American Court’s precedent, making it a good mechanism for its strengthening.

“The Roundtable was not only a space for dialogue and engagement; to me, it was an uncanny opportunity to connect with other young scholars studying courts, receive feedback, and think in future collective projects,” Salazar said. “Also, this academic encounter ratified the strength of the Notre Dame J.S.D. community both at the professional and personal level. It made me feel very proud of being part of it.”

Learn more about Notre Dame Law School's J.S.D. program and current J.S.D. candidates here: law.nd.edu/academics/jsd/current-students/

Notre Dame Law School alumnus Thomas Curtin ‘68 J.D. has been selected to receive the prestigious 2026 American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for the Third Circuit. This award honors a lawyer or judge whose career and conduct reflect extraordinary character, unwavering integrity, and a steadfast commitment to professionalism. This honor was awarded to Curtin during the 2026 Third Circuit Judicial Conference on May 6-8, 2026. Curtin will also be recognized at the American Inns of Court Celebration of Excellence Dinner at the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington.

Curtin is a partner at McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP, where he practices civil and commercial litigation and mediation in New Jersey federal and state courts. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, he spent decades at Graham Curtin PA, which he helped found in 1987.

Throughout his career, Curtin has been deeply involved in the legal profession and public service. He has held leadership roles with the American Bar Association and New Jersey State Bar Association, chaired the Lawyers Advisory Committee for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey since 2009, is a founding member of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals Bar Association, and helped establish the New Jersey Lawyers Assistance Program. He has also been an active member of the Notre Dame Law Association Board for several years and served as president of the board from 2000 to 2001.

Chief Judge Michael Chagares of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit nominated Curtin for the award. He wrote in his nomination letter, “It is an understatement to say that Tom’s love of the law and its practice runs deep. A veteran commercial litigator and widely regarded as a ‘lawyer’s lawyer,’ Tom possesses the same strong zeal, ambition, and passion as the day he proudly graduated from University of Notre Dame Law School in 1968. In short, I cannot think of a more deserving person than Tom for this award. He is a consummate professional, outstanding attorney, devoted volunteer, and a remarkable person.”

Notre Dame Law School celebrates Curtin’s career as an example of the integrity, leadership, and service that define its alumni community.

The encyclical was officially signed on May 15, the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical responding to the industrial revolution, Rerum novarum.

Notre Dame Law Professor Paolo Carozza provided commentary to several news outlets about the historic document.

He also participated in the “Magnifica Humanitas: Human Dignity in the Age of AI” Flash Panel hosted by Notre Dame's de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture. Watch it here:

You can find all of the outlets that featured quotes from Professor Carozza and live broadcast interviews below.

AI Insider: Pope Leo XIV’s First Encyclical Warns AI Power Concentration Threatens Democracy and Human Dignity

The Associated Press: Pope calls for robust regulation of AI in manifesto

Beliefnet: Pope Leo XIV Warns AI Could Threaten Humanity Without Strong Moral Limits

Bitcoin World: The Pope’s AI Encyclical Isn’t Really About AI — It’s About Power

CNBC: Trump officials split over Pope Leo’s AI warning as Vatican feud enters new front

CNN: 'We cannot consider AI to be morally neutral': In warning to world, Pope Leo calls for regulation of artificial intelligence

CNN International: Pope Leo to present first encyclical letter as Pontiff

Conversations with Consequences Podcast: Ep. 372 Msgr. Jason Gray on Fulton Sheen's Upcoming Beatification & Paolo Carozza Unpacks Pope Leo's AI Encyclical

EWTN News: What to Expect from Pope Leo XIV’s First Encyclical on AI

EWTN News: Educators weigh benefits and challenges of AI in the classroom

EWTN Great Britain: ‘A Hopeful Document’: Catholic Thinkers on AI Assess ‘Magnifica Humanitas’

Morning Honey: Subtle Dig at Trump? Pope Leo XIV Calls for Strict AI Regulation in First Encyclical

National Catholic Reporter: Catholic leaders weigh in on pope's AI encyclical, say it will take time to fully unpack

Newsweek: Pope Leo XIV’s AI Encyclical: Can Holy Father Influence Regulations?

Notre Dame News: Notre Dame experts respond to Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica humanitas

OSV News: Pope Leo's new encyclical offers hope, call to shared moral discernment, says experts

PBS News Hour: Pope calls for robust regulation of AI in manifesto that ponders the future of humanity

TechCrunch: The pope’s AI encyclical isn’t really about AI

The Globe and Mail: The Pope stirs hope for an AI backlash

The Guardian: Anthropic’s alliance with pope on AI harms: all in good faith or ‘Vatican-washing?’

The Tablet: View from Rome

The Washington Post: Pope elevates AI ethics to a religious imperative with first encyclical

USA Today: I asked AI about Pope Leo XIV's criticism and it is big mad 

USA Today: 'Profound, prophetic': Pope Leo warns of AI's dehumanizing effects

What’s Trending: Pope Leo XIV Wrote a 42000 Word Manifesto Declaring War on AI

WNDU: Pope calls for robust regulation of AI in manifesto that ponders the future of humanity

The encyclical was officially signed on May 15, the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical responding to the industrial revolution, Rerum novarum.

Below, University of Notre Dame faculty experts from the College of Arts and Letters, College of Engineering, Keough School of Global Affairs and Law School offer their insights into the document.

Rev. Daniel Groody, C.S.C.

Rev. Daniel Groody, C.S.C., serves as vice president and associate provost for undergraduate education and professor of theology and global affairs. In addition to his role at Notre Dame, Father Groody is a member of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and plays a key role in Notre Dame’s partnership with the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Center on issues of integral ecology and global sustainability. His research focuses primarily on migration, theology, refugees and human displacement.

“Pope Leo’s Magnifica humanitas calls us to continually discern what it means to be human before God in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence,” Father Groody said. “While this new digital age offers unprecedented possibilities for development, it simultaneously demands that we rediscover the true contours of our humanity. This authentic identity — rooted in an interior life, a moral conscience, human connections and a transcendent relationship to divine love — can never be quantified, modeled or replicated by machine learning. Against the technocratic impulse to reduce the human person to a mere data point, the encyclical boldly reasserts that we cannot be measured solely by technological acceleration but by holistic human development, human dignity and our commitment to the common good.

“Alongside new innovations, artificial intelligence reveals ancient temptations of radical self-sufficiency and idolatry. Warning against the modern temptation to construct a digital Tower of Babel in the pursuit of technological mastery, Pope Leo calls us instead to channel our energies into building the Kingdom of God and animating a ‘Civilization of Love.’ This sacred task requires an unwavering willingness to denounce the false forms of power that isolate us in algorithmic silos and blind us to our neighbors. In their place, Magnifica humanitas proposes a vision of life firmly anchored in justice, ultimately steering humanity toward the right ordering of our relationships with one another, with technology and with the Creator.”

Paolo Carozza

Notre Dame Law School professor Paolo Carozza is a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and also the chair of the Meta Oversight Board. Both his research and policy work are focused on the intersection of Catholic social thought and technology, especially social media and AI.

“I am convinced that this will prove to be a defining document for our era, a profound and prophetic document,” Carozza said. “It is not just for Catholics, but speaks to the concerns of all of humanity.

“We are living in a time of daily dramatic transformations in every aspect of our lives because of AI, where the very understanding of what it means to be human is being called into question. This is coupled with a real vacuum of moral leadership on the global stage. In that context, Pope Leo is offering a clear, comprehensive and coherent voice urging us to take responsibility for constructing a world in which technology will serve humans rather than degrade them.

“From here on, I don’t think anyone will be able to speak meaningfully about the future of humanity in the age of AI without coming to terms with this document and taking it seriously. While it is very direct about the many dangers already arising out of algorithmic technologies, it is decidedly not an anti-technology document. The real question is not whether AI is good or bad, but whether the ways we develop and deploy the technology help individuals and communities become more humane, just and participatory, or whether instead they foster exclusion, control and inequality.

“The overarching core message is that if we are to preserve our humanity, we must not allow people to be reduced to mere data and commodities to be instrumentalized and exploited. It is a very hopeful document, not a doomsaying one. Pope Leo insists that moral progress here is possible, and the negative consequences of AI technologies are far from inevitable.”

Meghan Sullivan

Meghan Sullivan is the Wilsey Family College Professor of Philosophy and director of the Notre Dame Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. She leads a national research and public engagement initiative on AI and human dignity and meets regularly with tech leaders and AI developers in Silicon Valley. In March, Sullivan attended an Anthropic summit to discuss how to guide the moral development of the corporation’s chatbot, Claude.

“Magnifica humanitas is one of the most compelling and comprehensive treatments of AI ethics I have ever read — and I say that as someone who has spent the past few years immersed in this literature from both philosophical and policy perspectives,” Sullivan said. “Pope Leo XIV grounds AI ethics in the Church’s long-standing social doctrine, which has consistently offered a profound vision of human dignity.

“Christian tradition has never grounded human dignity in cognitive performance or economic productivity. It has never said: You matter because of what you can do. It says: You matter because of who you are. Someone with a body, mind and soul. Someone built for love. Someone with a mind oriented toward truth, accountable for our choices. We’re vulnerable in a way that these AI models are not. And Pope Leo argues that this special belovedness — made in God’s own image — makes us magnificent.

“What strikes me most is how practical this document is. It gives concrete guidance to corporate leaders, to policymakers, to educators, to everyday people navigating this technology. For those of us at Notre Dame, the pope’s charge to educational institutions is especially urgent. He argues that schools must resist the pressure to simply accelerate alongside the digital world and instead become irreplaceable centers of human formation — places where knowledge is integrated, where real relationships are built, where students discover the meaning of human dignity.

“This is exactly the work that Notre Dame’s DELTA network exists to do. With a generous $50.8 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., we are going to put this teaching on human dignity and AI into action — across K-12 schools, universities, churches and the public square. Today’s encyclical gives us both the theological framework and the moral insight we need. Notre Dame is ready to help the Church and the world answer Pope Leo’s call.”

Nitesh Chawla

Nitesh Chawla, an expert in artificial intelligence, data science and network science, is the Frank M. Freimann Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and director of the Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society. He uses advancements in AI, data science and network science to pursue common good through interdisciplinary research by collaborating with community and national partners.

“Magnifica humanitas makes clear that AI cannot be treated as morally neutral,” Chawla said. “Because these systems embody choices about what they measure, ignore and optimize and how they classify people and situations, they must be transparent, accountable and subject to meaningful evaluation.

“That is the work of Responsible, Inclusive, Safe and Empowering AI — RISE AI — at Notre Dame. Anchored in the Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society, RISE AI asks four practical questions: Who answers for an AI system across its lifecycle? Who is represented and served? Who is protected from harm? Who gains or loses agency? AI governance claims are only as good as the evidence chain that connects them to what the system does. RISE AI builds that chain. That chain runs through audit logs, red-teaming, subgroup performance, accessibility, redress and user-agency measures that show what a system actually does and where its limits are.

“The encyclical’s most important insistence is that moral and technical questions cannot be separated; they meet in how systems are evaluated, audited, deployed, made contestable and governed. As section 109 puts it, social justice must ‘shape the very design’ of these systems from the outset, not be retrofitted after deployment. That means building AI that is not only powerful but legible, accountable and directed toward integral human development and the common good — making responsibility measurable, inclusion visible, safety testable and empowerment real.

“As Magnifica humanitas insists, responsibility must be ‘clearly defined at every stage.’”

Kathleen Sprows Cummings

Kathleen Sprows Cummings is a professor of American studies and history and director of the Global Catholic Research Initiative. A papal analyst for NBC/MSNBC, she offered expert commentary during the 2014 canonization of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII, Pope Francis’ U.S. visit in 2015, Pope Francis’ funeral in 2025 and the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.

“‘Age gives way to age,’ wrote Pope Leo XIII in Rerum novarum, ‘but the events of one century are wonderfully like those of another, for they are directed by the Providence of God.’ In Magnifica humanitas, an encyclical dated exactly 135 years after Rerum novarum, Pope Leo XIV also invokes God’s invisible work in history,” Cummings said. “And, like his namesake, he considers the central challenge of the age — in this case, the advent of artificial intelligence — in light of the Church’s timeless principles.

“More humble in tone than Rerum novarum, Magnifica humanitas is a far more capacious document that operates on several levels at once: an explanation of Catholic social teaching as it has developed since Rerum novarum; an affirmation of the intrinsic, God-given value of each person, which is not tied to what they achieve or produce; a rumination on the wonder and limitations of being human; a meditation on history, including an unflinching acknowledgement of the Church’s complicity in its darker moments; and an invitation to individuals and institutions to think creatively and collaboratively about how to ‘disarm’ new technologies and harness them for good.

“In his powerful conclusion, Pope Leo entrusts this endeavor to Mary, quoting from the Magnificat, her revolutionary ‘song of hope’ which glorifies the God who delivers the humble and oppressed, dislodges the privileged from their positions of power, and continues to make all things new in this and in every age. In that sense, Magnifica humanitas ultimately offers consolation to a world in desperate need of it.”

Arun Agrawal

Arun Agrawal, the Pulte Family Professor of Development Policy and director of the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative, studies environmental politics, sustainable development and transformative change. He has spent time with Catholic leaders discussing ways to care for our common home globally and across all disciplines and can address how AI technology is impacting the environment.

“The words ‘common good’ appear in Pope Leo’s encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, more often than the words ‘artificial intelligence’ or ‘AI,’ more often than ‘church,’ and more often than ‘religion,’” Agrawal said. “In its mention of the common good, the encyclical resonates with Pope Francis’ call for care for our common home. This continuity and this focus on the common — on the community of which we are all a part — is a characteristic feature of what it means to be human, to be part of the interconnectedness of all creation.

“Fundamentally, the encyclical is a call to heed and act for the common good. It is a call to move away from the kind of politics that advances only the fortune and interests of a select few. Increasingly, our politics pushes to the side the grandeur of humanity and promotes markets that profit the elite instead of supporting the common good.

“It prophetically recognizes that the ‘invisible hand’ of the market is in fact about the visible hand of politics that helps the marriage of finance and technology. It instead asks for our politics that would direct technology and finance and artificial intelligence to support the common good so as to achieve the grandeur of humanity. It is only by attending to this call that we have any hope of maintaining the dignity of the whole person.”

Additional Notre Dame experts on the AI encyclical and a statement from University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., are available.

Contact: Carrie Gates, associate director of media relations, 574-993-9220, c.gates@nd.edu

Originally published by Notre Dame News at news.nd.edu on May 25, 2026.

Notre Dame Law School honored the Class of 2026 on Saturday, May 16, at the Law School’s 156th Diploma and Hooding Ceremony. The Law School conferred 1 J.S.D., 11 LL.M., and 190 J.D. degrees.

On Friday, May 15, the celebration began with the annual Awards Ceremony, commencement reception, and Prayer Service at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Law students played an integral role in the service, selecting readings and music, as well as serving as readers, petitioners, and the cantor.

In his homily to the class, Msgr. John Paul Kimes, professor of the practice, reflected on the Parable of the Good Samaritan, saying that it "challenges us to go beyond mere knowledge of the law and to seek its understanding." He said, “Being scholars of the law is a gift and a responsibility, one to be practiced not only with knowledge but with the compassion and love that come with understanding. Understanding the law, especially God’s law, focuses on people, not problems.”

In his concluding prayer, Fr. Bill Dailey, C.S.C., the Law School’s chaplain, said, “We all have to think about how we respond to our neighbor in need. We might be the only one to see that need or who is willing to respond.”

After the Law School's Prayer Service, law graduates gathered for a class photo on the steps of the University of Notre Dame’s Main Building.

The 156th Diploma and Hooding Ceremony took place the following day at the Purcell Pavilion.

The Class of 2026 selected Rev. Patrick E. Reidy, C.S.C., associate professor of law, to receive the Distinguished Faculty Award and deliver the commencement address. Outgoing Student Bar Association President Nicholas Smith introduced Father Reidy.

In his Commencement address to the Notre Dame Law School Class of 2026, Father Reidy reflected on hope, love, and resurrection, reminding graduates that the law is ultimately about accompanying others through their most vulnerable moments.

“As lawyers, people will share with you what they keep hidden from the world,” he said. “They will invite you into stories that are far from perfect. They will trust you in a moment with the deepest recesses of their hearts.” He later added, “As lawyers, people will share with you what they need help to carry.”

Throughout the address, Father Reidy encouraged graduates to lead with compassion: to listen deeply, advocate faithfully, and never lose sight of the humanity behind every story. Reflecting on memory, love, and the moments that shape a life, he also quoted—and sang—lyrics from Ed Sheeran.

G. Marcus Cole, the Joseph A. Matson Dean and Professor of Law, conferred degrees and placed the doctoral hood over each graduate as they walked across the stage. He then delivered a charge to the class reflecting on what it means to become a "different kind of lawyer” and encouraging graduates to become “Matthew 25 lawyers” who use their legal training to pursue justice, serve others, and “practice love.”

Drawing from a personal story about visiting a Buddhist temple in Seoul with his wife and two sons, Cole reflected on seeing enormous pots used to prepare soup for the poor and homeless. The experience, and a question from his young son asking why Christians in their Church were not doing the same work, challenged him to think more deeply about what it means to live out one’s faith through action.

“You will not be helping clients to escape justice,” Cole told the graduates. “Instead, you will be helping clients to find ways to build just and virtuous futures for their communities and the people within them. You will be using your legal training to make ‘big pots’ of justice for the people in your communities, our nation, and our world.”

Cole also spoke about the urgent need for lawyers grounded in compassion, courage, and service. “If there was ever a time when the world needed a different kind of lawyer, it is now. If there was ever a time for lawyers to serve up ‘big pots’ of justice, it is now," he said. "Yes, practice law, but also practice love.”

He concluded by inviting family, friends, faculty, and staff to extend their hands toward the graduates while he offered a prayer over the Class of 2026, asking that they become “Matthew 25 lawyers” who “see the face of God in everyone” they encounter.

More commencement stories and news about ND Law’s Class of 2026:

• Commencement 2026: Law School Prayer Service (video)
• Commencement 2026: Law School Hooding and Conferring of Degrees (video)
• Commencement 2026: Dean G. Marcus Cole’s charge to the graduating class
  
• Commencement 2026: Speech by Distinguished Professor of the Year Fr. Pat Reidy, C.S.C.
  
• Notre Dame Law School announces awards for 2026 graduating class
• Rev. Patrick Reidy Named 2026 Distinguished Teaching Award Recipient
• Class of 2026 Commencement Features
• Notre Dame Law Graduate Kyung Mo Kang ’26 J.S.D. Examines Accountability for Human Rights Violations in North Korea
• Third-year Notre Dame Law students honored for public interest work at annual Champions for Justice Ceremony
• 2026 Shaffer Public Interest Fellow to Serve Domestic Violence Survivors in North Carolina
• Notre Dame Law Graduate Tyson Weeks '26 J.D. Receives 2026 Equal Justice Works Regional Public Interest Award
• Notre Dame Law student Garrett Hofmann selected for FASPE Ethics Fellowship
• Notre Dame Law 3L Simon Brake Wins First Place in Religious Liberty Student Writing Competition
• ND Law student Joshua Robe receives University of Chicago Federalist Society Eaton Award
• American Constitution Society selects ND Law’s Erin Hiestand as a 2026 Next Generation Leader

Watch his speech below:

Anne C. Hamilton Award

Amanda Soto

Amanda Soto received the Anne C. Hamilton Award, named after long-time and beloved registrar Anne Hamilton who passed away in 2018. The award recognizes the graduating student who has done the most to help his or her fellow students.

Amanda has served as president of the Women’s Legal Forum, treasurer of the Student Bar Association, and an articles editor for the Journal of Law, Ethics, & Public Policy. She also participated in the Eviction Clinic, and is a Sorin Fellow with the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture.

Captain William O. McLean Law School Community Citizenship Award

John Shaughnessy

John Shaughnessy received the Captain William O. McLean Community Citizenship Award, named to honor Captain McLean, a former associate dean of Notre Dame Law School. It recognizes a student who has made the greatest contribution to the lives of Notre Dame Law School students. The recipient of the Captain McLean Award is selected by the members of the 3L graduating class.

John is a member of the Saint Thomas More Society and served as a community editor for the Journal of Law, Ethics, and Public Policy. Additionally, John was a student in the Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic.

Conrad Kellenberg Award

Victoria Foley

Victoria Foley was also awarded the Conrad Kellenberg Award, which commemorates Professor Kellenberg’s fifty years of service to Notre Dame Law School and local communities. This award acknowledges a student's significant dedication to community betterment through service. The recipient of the Conrad Kellenberg Award is selected by the members of the graduating 3L class.

Victoria served as the managing online editor for the Journal of International & Comparative Law and was a student in the Global Human Rights Clinic. Victoria regularly volunteered for nonprofits in the South Bend community, including Reins of Life and La Casa de Amistad.

David T. Link Award

Peris Munene Osborne

Peris Munene Osborne received the David T. Link Award, presented to graduating students in recognition of their outstanding service in the field of social justice. The award honors Rev. David Link, who served as the Law School’s dean for several years and was a champion for social justice. In his later life he was ordained a priest and ministered to prisoners throughout Indiana.

Peris held leadership roles in both the Student Bar Association and the Black Law Students Association. Additionally, Peris was a student in the Exoneration Justice Clinic.

H. King Williams Memorial Award

Audra Kim

Audra Kim is the recipient of the H. King Williams Memorial Award for her significant contribution to building community at Notre Dame Law School. Audra has served as a class representative for the Student Bar Association. She also served as an associate editor of the Journal on Emerging Technologies.

Joseph Ciraolo Memorial Award

Andrea Michelle Vasquez

Michelle Vasquez was awarded the Joseph Ciraolo Memorial Award, which recognizes a graduating student who exemplifies spirit, service, and significant achievement in the face of adversity. While in Law School, Michelle served as vice president of the First Generation Professionals Student Organization, and was the notes editor for the Journal on Emerging Technologies. Additionally, she was a student in the Global Human Rights Clinic.

Judge Joseph E. Mahoney Award

Nicholas Smith

The Judge Joseph E. Mahoney Award was awarded to Nicholas Smith for outstanding leadership. Nicholas served as this year’s president of the Notre Dame Student Bar Association and the Black Law Student Association. He also served as a research assistant for the Global Human Rights Clinic.

Saint Ivo Kermartin Mediation Award

Alexis Behnke

Alexis Behnke is the recipient of the Saint Ivo Kermartin Mediation Award, which recognizes an outstanding student mediator and is selected by the Mediation Clinic faculty. During her time in Law School, Alexis has been involved in the Women’s Legal Forum, and has served as senior editor on the Journal on Emerging Technologies.

Tia B. Paulette & Erika S. Gustin Award

Andrew Zimlich

Andrew Zimlich is the recipient of the Tia B. Paulette & Erika S. Gustin Award, which recognizes commitment to criminal justice and public interest work through support of the Exoneration Justice Clinic.

In addition to his involvement in the Exoneration Justice Clinic, Andrew has been involved with Moot Court, and has served as a staff editor on the Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy.

Patricia O’Hara Scholarship and Leadership Award

Yuta Inada, Thomas MacPhee, Veronica Maska, Gabriel Powell, and Dennis Wieboldt

The Patricia O’Hara Scholarship & Leadership Award is named in honor of Patricia O’Hara, professor emerita and the first woman to serve as dean at Notre Dame Law School, and is awarded to the five graduates who best represent a combination of scholarship and leadership.

Yuta Inada was involved in the Global Human Rights Clinic, the International Law Society, and the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, and served on the Notre Dame Law Review.

Thomas MacPhee was active in Moot Court and served as editor-in-chief of the Notre Dame Law Review.

Veronica Maska has been involved with the Notre Dame Law Review as a senior articles editor and the Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic, and served as vice president of Jus Vitae.

Gabriel Powell served as the staff editor and managing articles editor of the Notre Dame Law Review. He was also involved as the president of the Federalist Society, and as an oralist on the Moot Court Board’s Showcase Team.

Dennis Wieboldt has been involved in the Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic and founded the Notre Dame Graduate Legal History Colloquium.

Other Named Awards

The A. Harold Weber Writing Award

For excellence in essay writing

Dennis Wieboldt

The Arthur A. May Award

To a member of the Barristers Moot Court Trial team who demonstrates a commitment to professional ethical standards and exhibits excellence in trial advocacy

Morgan Hall

Arthur Abel Memorial Writing Competition

Award for excellence in legal writing for the Notre Dame Law Review

Steven Tu

Champions for Justice Award

The students receiving the Champion for Justice award have exemplified Fr. Hesburgh’s call to be a lawyer champion with their extraordinary commitment to public service. Awarded at the Champions for Justice Public Interest Recognition Ceremony in April.

Colton Barta

Lucas Brolin

Jessica Buchanan

Kathleen Casey

Autumn Chassie

Christine Farnberg

Parker Felterman

Holly Fulbright

Morgam Hall

Sydni Hart

Nora Ibrahim

Alesis Juntunen

Alexa Kawlewski

Nathan Kawlewski

Albert Kwon

Allyson Lazarre

Ava Moreno

Peris Munene

Nikki Rafferty

Alexandra Ragland

Sarah Spain

Mikela St. John

Kathleen Stewart

Steven Tu

Tyson Weeks

Gloria Wertjes

Andrew Zimlich

Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Student Award

For excellence in clinical work

Victoria Foley

Dean Konop Legal Aid Award

For outstanding service in the Legal Aid Clinic

Colton Barta

Garrett Hofmann

Edward F. Barrett Award

For outstanding achievement in the art of trial advocacy

Caroline Cannizzaro

International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award

For distinguished achievement in the art of advocacy, chosen by Trial Advocacy faculty

Colton Barta

Erin Hiestand

Femia Tonelli

Katherine Zeda

Jessup International Moot Court Award

For excellence in advocacy

Grace Elias

Camille Golowski

Mariko Jurcsak

Ava Moreno

Mary Pat Peteraon

The Jon E. Krupnick Award

For excellence in the art of trial advocacy

Albert Kwon

Marin Larkin

Jennifer Osita

The Kyle D. Smith Mock Trial Award

For excellence in mock trial

Quinn Kelly

Lardy Scholarship

Amanda Soto

Last year, Amanda Soto received the Lardy Scholarship, which is presented annually to a rising third-year student “who exemplifies courage, love, and understanding toward his fellow man.”

William T. Kirby Award

For excellence in brief writing. Chosen by the Legal Writing faculty based on the student’s writing submission.

Steven Tu

William T. Kirby Award (1L)

For excellence in legal writing during the 1L year

Steven Tu

Awards for Outstanding Achievement

Recognizing one graduating student for excellence in courses taken in the following programs of study.

Program of Study in Business Law

Yuta Inada

Program in Study of Criminal Law

Lucas Brolin

Program of Study in Energy and Environmental Law

Gloria Wertjes

Program of Study in Global Law

Yuta Inada

Kyle Johnson

Program of Study in Intellectual Property and Technology Law

Alexandra Noble

Program of Study in Law, Ethics, and Public Policy

Dennis Wieboldt

Program of Study in Public Law

Thomas MacPhee

Program of Study in Real Estate Law

Hayden Burnight

See the full list of awards in the event program here

Highest Academic Awards

The Law School will recognize our three highest academic honors—the Colonel William J. Hoynes Award, the Dean Joseph O’Meara Award, and the Farabaugh Prize—in early June.

For Kyung Mo Kang, the pursuit of justice in North Korea has become the defining focus of his time at Notre Dame Law School. Now a graduate of the Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D.) program, his research confronts one of international law’s most difficult questions: how to hold perpetrators of mass human rights abuses accountable.

Kang’s dissertation, titled “Transitional Justice Mechanism for Human Rights Violations: A Tribunal Model for Criminal Accountability in North Korea,” focuses on international criminal accountability for human rights violations from the perspective of transitional justice. He studies how legal institutions might respond to crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes committed by North Korean authorities. His work examines the International Criminal Court, ad hoc tribunals, and hybrid tribunals. He also asks which model could best support democratic governance and the rule of law in North Korea.

A major part of Kang’s research draws on in-depth interviews with 50 North Korean escapees. Their perspectives help shape his analysis of accountability. He examines how they identify perpetrators, what they hope justice will look like, and how accountability might contribute to democratic transition in North Korea.

Kang completed his dissertation under the guidance of Professor Diane Desierto. Reflecting on his time at Notre Dame, Kang points to his conversations with faculty as one of the most meaningful parts of his experience.

“I enjoyed every time I talked and discussed with professors, covering not only my own research but also their research interests and current issues,” Kang said. “Every time, I received valuable insights and suggestions, which deepened my research.”

His dissertation defense took place on Tuesday, April 14, and included an assessment of his research, methodologies, and findings, followed by a question-and-answer session. The defense committee included Professor Bruce Huber, chair; Professor Diane Desierto, his advisor; Professor Jimmy Gurulé; and Professor Jeong-Ho Roh, director of the Center for Korean Legal Studies, senior research scholar, and lecturer in law at Columbia University.

Kang’s scholarship has also received recognition beyond Notre Dame. This fall, he has been invited to deliver his inaugural guest lecture at the Center for Korean Studies at Columbia Law School.

Beyond his dissertation, Kang has also been part of Notre Dame’s broader intellectual community. He has been associated with the Kellogg Institute for International Studies and has attended events and lectures offered by the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and the Klau Institute for Civil & Human Rights. Those experiences helped broaden the context for his work and deepened his engagement with questions of law, justice, and political change.

After graduation, Kang plans to continue his research on localized accountability mechanisms. He also hopes to pursue a career in research and to become involved in international criminal trials.

For Kang, being a “different kind of lawyer” means thinking beyond immediate results. It means reflecting on what legal work contributes and how it shapes the future. “A ‘different kind of lawyer’ is a lawyer who constantly reflects on what and how their practice of law contributes,” Kang said. “I think that a ‘different kind of lawyer’ is one who looks beyond immediate problems and immediate results, contemplating the essence of the issues as well as the long-term impact and ripple effects that their work will generate.”

Kang’s scholarship reflects the spirit of Notre Dame’s J.S.D. program: rigorous, globally engaged, and rooted in a deep commitment to human dignity and justice. In studying accountability for abuses in North Korea, he has taken on one of the hardest questions in international law and brought both care and clarity to the task.

Recent graduate Tyson Weeks ’26 J.D. has been selected for the 2026 Equal Justice Works Regional Public Interest Award for the Midwest region. Awarded annually by Equal Justice Works’ National Advisory Committee (NAC), this honor recognizes eight law students across the country who exhibit exemplary commitment to public interest law through clinics, volunteer work, and internships. Along with the recognition, Tyson will receive a $250 cash prize and commemorative plaque.

Tyson has continuously engaged with public interest work throughout his time at Notre Dame Law School. He pursued legal internships with the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission and the ACLU of the District of Columbia. He also externed with the Innocence Project London, Indiana Legal Services, Inc., and St. Joseph County Public Defender Office. He was actively involved with Notre Dame Law School’s Eviction Clinic, through which he helped a local resident avoid a significant judgment and successfully recover her security deposit.

After graduation and passage of the Washington bar, Tyson will continue his work in public interest law. Tyson has accepted an offer to join the King County Department of Public Defense in Seattle as a public defender this upcoming fall. He is committed to leveraging his education to serve Seattle’s indigent community while working alongside and learning from dedicated advocates in the country.

Through his dedication to public interest law and academic excellence, Tyson demonstrates Notre Dame Law School’s commitment to educating a “different kind of lawyer”—one who combines legal competence with high ethical and social justice standards.

On May 16, 2026, we will celebrate Commencement with the Notre Dame Law School Class of 2026, ushering them into what are sure to be meaningful and successful legal careers grounded in service, integrity, and purpose.

Each student arrived at Notre Dame with a unique story. Through rigorous legal training and personal formation, they have embraced what it means to be a “different kind of lawyer” — one committed to excellence, integrity, conscience, and selfless service to others.

Meet a few of our exceptional graduating students whose experiences reflect Notre Dame Law School’s commitment to integrating reason and faith, advancing the common good, and cultivating leaders guided by ethical purpose. Their journeys demonstrate how Notre Dame Lawyers carry forward a profound commitment to human dignity and justice.

• Kathleen Casey
• Carlos Chinchilla
• Emmett Gillen
• Morgan Hall
• Nora Ibrahim
• Thomas MacPhee
• Jennifer Osita
• Diana Vallejo Ramirez
• Nicholas Smith
• Amanda and Eddie Soto
• Nate and Gloria Wertjes
• Dennis Wieboldt III

Growing up, Amanda (Garcia) and Eduardo “Eddie” Soto lived just 30 minutes from each other in South Florida—without ever meeting.

It took their independent decisions to attend Notre Dame Law School for their paths to cross. They met during 1L orientation then began dating several months later. Over time, the futures they had imagined separately began to take shape side by side.

This past fall, during their 3L year, Amanda and Eddie were married in Spain. Now, as graduation approaches, they are preparing to return to Florida—not just as Notre Dame Law graduates, but as partners beginning a life together.

Their story as a couple began at Notre Dame, but it was shaped by two distinct journeys.

For Eddie, the path to law school was influenced by discernment and a search for meaning. He attended Northwestern University, where he studied economics and worked as a student coach for the football team. After graduating, he continued coaching at both Northwestern and Kent State University.

“Two years after college, I was thinking about where God was calling me and what my vocation was,” Eddie said. “I was looking for something where I could have more meaning and make a positive impact.”

Amanda’s path reflected a similar sense of faith and trust, though it unfolded differently. After attending Florida International University, she did not initially see Notre Dame as a possibility.

“It was the last school I applied to, and the first school I got into,” Amanda said. “When I visited, I knew immediately—this was the school for me. I didn’t need to look anywhere else.”

That decision carried special meaning for Amanda and her family. After emigrating from Cuba as a young child, her father came to know American culture in part through sports—and through Notre Dame football.

“My father, not knowing much about American culture, followed sports and would watch Notre Dame football every Saturday,” Amanda said. “He came from very little, and Notre Dame football meant so much in our home.”

For both Amanda and Eddie, Notre Dame Law School stood out for its academic strength, Catholic mission, and emphasis on formation.

“The faculty was a huge reason I chose Notre Dame,” Eddie said. “They prepare you incredibly well, especially for opportunities like clerkships, but they also care about you as a person.”

That sense of formation was reinforced by the professors who shaped their experience. Amanda points to Professors Rick and Nicole Garnett as particularly influential, while Eddie credits Professor Jeffrey Pojanowski as a mentor who also played a key role in his decision to attend Notre Dame.

“I spoke with Professor Pojanowski when I was considering my options,” Eddie said. “He talked about the faculty and the Catholic culture of Notre Dame. I was single at the time, and he said, ‘You know, you have a good chance of finding your wife here, probably a better chance than at some other law schools.’”

It seems Professor Pojanowski had pretty good intuition.

At Notre Dame, both Amanda and Eddie immersed themselves in the life of the Law School. Eddie served as a managing notes editor on the Notre Dame Law Review and was active in the Federalist Society and the Saint Thomas More Society. He also served as a March for Life coordinator and mentored students through the Dean’s Initiative for Leadership and Scholarly Excellence.

Amanda’s involvement reflected a similar commitment to leadership and community. She served as president of the Women’s Legal Forum, treasurer of the Student Bar Association, and an articles editor for the Journal of Law, Ethics, & Public Policy. She also participated in the Eviction Clinic, completed a double externship, and is a Sorin Fellow with the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture. As the 2025–26 recipient of the Lardy Scholarship Award, she distinguished herself through her commitment to building community within the Law School.

“I love this law school dearly,” Amanda said. “Most of what I’ve been involved in has not been for me, but for bettering the people who attend this law school and helping others see this place the way I do. Everything I’ve done has been geared toward community building—helping people experience not just Notre Dame Law School, but the professors as people and the families that make up this community.”

After graduation, Amanda will clerk for Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz of the Florida Supreme Court and then plans to pursue a career in trust and estate law.

Eddie will clerk for the Honorable Rodolfo A. Ruiz of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, followed by a clerkship with the Honorable Robert J. Luck on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He plans to pursue a career in litigation.

They also have another exciting milestone ahead: Amanda and Eddie are expecting their first child, due in December.

As they look ahead, both reflect on how Notre Dame has shaped their understanding of what it means to be a “different kind of lawyer.”

“I think being a ‘different kind of lawyer’ is realizing that the law is so much more than you,” Amanda said. “It’s not just about becoming a lawyer, it’s about being formed as a person.”

“It’s about being a servant—to your client and to the system—while putting God first,” Eddie said. “When people hear you’re a Notre Dame lawyer, they should know you’re someone who tells the truth and does the right thing.”

For Amanda and Eddie Soto, that formation is reflected not only in the lawyers they are becoming, but in the life and family they will build together along the way.

Syl Schieber ’72 M.A., ’74 Ph.D., and his wife, Vicki, have made a generous gift to support Notre Dame Law School’s Death Penalty Abolition Week for the next five years. Their contribution will help ensure the event’s continuation and support the Law School’s efforts to raise awareness of the tragic miscarriages of justice caused by wrongful convictions, affirm the sanctity of human life, and advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. This latest gift builds on a previous gift from the Schiebers in fall 2025 supporting Death Penalty Abolition Week.

In March 2025, Notre Dame Law School hosted its inaugural Death Penalty Abolition Week, a four-day series of events aimed at confronting the realities of wrongful convictions and sparking critical conversations about the use of the death penalty. Organized by the Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic and the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights, the inaugural program brought together a range of institutional partners and student organizations. The second annual Death Penalty Abolition Week, held in March 2026, expanded this collaboration further, with the Notre Dame Institute for Social Concerns joining as a sponsor and additional student organizations participating as co-sponsors.

Distinguished speakers—including death row exonerees, abolition advocates, and experts in criminal justice reform—shared firsthand accounts and discussed systemic issues tied to wrongful convictions and capital punishment, such as racial bias and the fundamental violation of human dignity inherent in the death penalty.

Featured speakers have included Dr. Yusef Salaam, Central Park Five exoneree and New York City Councilman; Ohio death row exonerees Lamont Hunter and Elwood Jones, both represented by attorney Erin Gallagher Barnhart ’05 J.D. in separate cases; Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States; the Honorable Bob Morris, Indiana Representative; Anthony Ray Hinton, death row exoneree and author of the novel The Sun Does Shine; Donna Schneweis, director of the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty; and Sarah Craft, interim director of the Indiana Abolition Coalition.

Syl Schieber also spoke at both the inaugural and second annual Death Penalty Abolition Week, sharing a powerful testimony rooted in faith, forgiveness, and justice. After his 23-year-old daughter, Shannon, was raped and murdered in 1998, Schieber and his wife made the decision to oppose capital punishment for her killer. Guided by their Catholic faith and belief in the sanctity of human life, the Schiebers have since become leading voices in the national movement to abolish the death penalty. He shared his story at the inaugural Death Penalty Abolition Week last year and, this year, moderated a panel discussion titled “A Call to Action” with panelists Schneweis and Craft, reflecting on how he turned his grief into action.

Through their gift supporting Death Penalty Abolition Week at Notre Dame Law School over the next five years, the Schiebers reaffirm their commitment to faith, forgiveness, and the abolition of the death penalty. Professor Jimmy Gurulé, director of the Exoneration Justice Clinic, stated that “while the generous gift from Syl and Vicki Schieber will continue to support the Death Penalty Abolition Week for the next five years, the ultimate goal is to abolish the death penalty in Indiana within that period of time, if not sooner.”

Nora Ibrahim once saw the world in black and white.

As an undergraduate biology major specializing in endocrinology, she was drawn to the clarity of science, where answers are measurable and definitive. “I like the black and white of the sciences and the absolute nature of the study. You’re either right or you’re wrong,” she said. But even then, she began pushing herself beyond that framework by minoring in visual arts to challenge how she thought. “In the arts, you’re very much in the gray zone,” she said. “You’re challenging your brain to think beyond the black and white.”

That tension—between certainty and complexity—would shape her path.

After graduating in 2019 from the University of Chicago, Nora spent four years in clinical research, including work in cardiogenomics at Northwestern University. There she studied sudden cardiac death in young patients to better understand potential genetic causes. She later transitioned to anesthesiology research, focusing on improving how patients are monitored during surgery.

The work was meaningful, and at one point Nora planned to become a cardiac surgeon. But over time, her perspective shifted as she realized the profession didn’t align with how she envisioned her future or the kind of relationships she wanted to build.

“You never go to your doctor and say that you are excited about something good happening in your life,” she said. “You go to them and you tell them, ‘fix me,’ and you don’t see them again until the next time you feel sick.”

In contrast, she saw law as a space where she could walk alongside people through both challenges and successes.

“You’re seeing your clients when they’re having personal or professional struggles, but you’re also there at the finish line, celebrating their wins with them. It’s exciting to be by their side through it all,” she said.

That realization led her to law school. When she arrived at Notre Dame, she quickly discovered that the law was far from the black-and-white system she had imagined.

“I initially thought either you’re responsible because you’ve committed whatever charge you’re accused of, or you’re not,” she said. “But then you read opinions and cases, and you realize the law functions very much in the gray.” The adjustment was challenging, but it reinforced something she had already begun to learn: the world—and the law—requires comfort with nuance. “You have to get comfortable with the gray,” she said. “You’re never just right or wrong.”

At Notre Dame, Nora found both intellectual challenge and a strong sense of community. Drawn in part by its proximity to her family in Chicago, she was equally influenced by the Law School’s collaborative culture and engaged faculty. “The professors genuinely care about you as an individual and your career,” she said. “They will give you time just because you stopped by their office to say hello.”

She immersed herself in that community, serving as president of the Middle Eastern Law Students Association and as a notes editor on the Journal on Emerging Technologies. She also participated in the Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program, building mentorship connections that supported her transition into the legal field.

At the same time, Nora sought out spaces where she could connect with her identity, including the Notre Dame Muslim Student Association. As a Muslim student at a Catholic law school, her experience was both unique and formative. “This was the first time I was the only visibly Muslim person in a space,” she said. “Although it was difficult at times, it was certainly a shaping experience.” Over time, that initial adjustment gave way to a deeper appreciation for the environment. “I appreciate people’s curiosity, especially when they choose to ask questions instead of relying on assumptions,” she said.

Her experience in the Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic, working in the transactional advising section, further shaped her perspective, particularly her interest in supporting religious organizations with limited resources.

Beyond the classroom, Nora also found community as an assistant rector in Cavanaugh Hall, mentoring the undergraduate women who lived there. Her widely popular weekly program, “Tea Talks, Hot Choc, Snack Wok Wednesday,” brings students together over themed gatherings and homemade food and regularly draws a crowd of young women.

Through these experiences, Nora developed a clearer sense of what it means to be a lawyer—and the kind of lawyer she hopes to become.

After graduation, Nora will return to Chicago to begin her career as a corporate attorney at Faegre Drinker where she is drawn to the collaborative nature of the work. Nora hopes to carry forward everything she has learned—across disciplines, communities, and experiences—into her work.

“I think being a ‘different kind of lawyer’ means that you approach anybody you talk to with kindness, compassion, and understanding,” she said. “You have to take a moment to pause and just listen. The more you listen, the more likely you are to respond with compassion instead of jumping to immediate judgment.”

In a profession often defined by argument and certainty, Nora has learned to embrace something different—the space in between. In that gray, she has found not only her path, but the kind of lawyer she hopes to become.

Notre Dame Law student Garrett Hofmann was selected as one of 14 fellows for the 2026 Law Program of the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE).

Now in its sixteenth year, FASPE annually grants 80-90 fellowships to graduate students and early-career professionals in the fields of Business, Clergy, Design & Technology, Journalism, Law, and Medicine. Fellows participate in a two-week program in Germany and Poland, which uses the conduct of professionals in Nazi-occupied Europe as an initial framework for approaching ethical responsibility in the professions today.

The FASPE curriculum conducts daily seminars and dialogue at sites of historic importance, often specific to each profession. The experience of the Law fellows is enhanced by traveling alongside the Business and Design & Technology fellows, who consider how ethical constructs and norms in their respective professions align and differ.

“We are living in a fraught moment when professionals face crucial ethical choices that in some instances are reminiscent of choices professionals faced in Nazi Germany. FASPE’s emphasis on examining why so many professionals made poor choices, how we might identify with their decision-making, and the horrific consequences of their choices helps to instill in professionals a rigorous and reflective approach that is valuable at any time, but particularly in a perilous moment like this one,” said Noah Bookbinder, FASPE’s CEO.

The 2026 Fellowship will take place in Germany and Poland over the course of two weeks this summer. The Law Program will be led by Corey Ellis, former senior leader and trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, and Jessica Roth, professor of law and co-director of the Jacob Burns Center for Ethics in the Practice of Law at Cardozo School of Law.

Hofmann is a third-year student at Notre Dame Law School with a strong commitment to public service and an interest in national security law. As the child of an Air Force family, he brings a lifelong connection to military communities to his legal work. Hofmann has experience in veterans advocacy, administrative law, and international legal issues, including work in Israel on behalf of American victims of terrorism. He has led major academic initiatives supporting veterans and plans a career in government service at the intersection of law, ethics, and national security.

"The program offers a rare and distinctive opportunity to study professional ethics," said Hofmann. "I look forward to honing my ethical values and decision-making skills in an immersive and interdisciplinary environment."

According to FASPE, Hofmann was drawn to FASPE for its unflinching examination of how professionals confront ethical failure and responsibility in the most consequential real-world settings. He joined the program to more fully anchor his legal career in a deep sense of purpose, accountability, and service.

Hofmann joins a diverse group of 84 FASPE fellows across all six programs. The fellows were chosen through a competitive process that drew over 1,400 applicants from across the U.S. and the world. FASPE covers all program costs, including travel, food, and lodging.

The FASPE Ethics Fellowship allows the participants to join a community of nearly 1,000 alumni. Through an annual reunion conference, leadership development workshops, ethics symposia, trips to ethically significant historical sites, and alumni writing, FASPE maintains long-term relationships with its fellows. This continued work sustains the commitment to ethical behavior and provides a forum for further dialogue. Through FASPE’s Ethical Tensions Conversations, for example, alumni reflect upon and discuss the vital professional ethical issues of our own day in the spirit of open inquiry.

To learn more about FASPE and its programs, visit www.faspe-ethics.org.

About Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE)
FASPE is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote ethical leadership and responsibility among professionals beginning with recognition of the influence that professionals have on all aspects of society. Its distinctive methodology examines the behavior and motivations of the professionals who enabled and enacted Nazi policies to establish the importance and urgency of self-awareness, professionalism, and ethical leadership today.