Notre Dame Law School alumnus David Spicer, '20 joined the staff of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in the fall of 2020 as a Policy Advisor in the Department of Migration and Refugee Services. In this role, Spicer provides the Conference and the Bishops with policy analysis and recommendations on immigration issues, represents the Conference in coalition work and at national and international meetings on these subjects, and, as required, delivers congressional testimony, reports, advocacy papers, backgrounders, and action alerts.
Since assuming his position, Spicer has overseen two amicus briefs. The first, Trump v. New York, involved the Trump Administration's stated policy of excluding undocumented persons from the decennial census data used for congressional apportionment. The second brief was for Pekoske v. Innovation Law Lab (formerly Wolf v. Innovation Law Lab), which hinged on the legality of the Migration Protection Protocols (MPP).
Spicer was awarded a summer fellowship opportunity from the Notre Dame Program on Church, State & Society while a student.
"Notre Dame's Catholic character was always my primary motivation when it came to where I would attend law school. Any school can produce competent lawyers, but very few institutions see the law as a solemn vocation and cultivate that view in the minds and hearts of those they serve. This is what sets Notre Dame apart from its peers, and it's what allows ambitious enterprises, such as the Program on Church, State & Society, to thrive. I'm indebted to the Program—and its generous benefactors—for the opportunity to work at the USCCB while in law school. Otherwise, I never would have made the lasting connections and gained the valuable experience necessary to secure such an impactful position," said Spicer.
The Program on Church, State & Society aims to enhance the law school experience for all Notre Dame law students interested in issues related to law & religion and religious liberty. Current and prospective students can learn more about Program offerings by contacting Jonathan Hannah, JD at hannah.7@nd.edu.