Four accomplished attorneys from First Liberty Institute achieved one of the legal profession's highest honors on Wednesday, December 3rd, when they were formally admitted to the Supreme Court Bar during ceremonies at the nation's highest court.
Senior Counsel Becky Dummermuth, Associate Counsel Erin Smith, Counsel Holly M. Randall, and Associate General Counsel Nathan Shackelford joined the exclusive ranks of attorneys authorized to argue cases before the United States Supreme Court. The swearing-in ceremony took place just hours before First Liberty presented oral arguments in a significant religious liberty case involving Mississippi evangelist Gabe Olivier.
"Admission to the Supreme Court Bar represents a lifetime honor and responsibility bestowed upon the nation's elite litigators, recognizing their exceptional qualifications and dedication to the practice of law."
The timing of these admissions carries particular significance for First Liberty Institute, a prominent Christian conservative legal organization based in Plano, Texas. Founded by Kelly Shackelford in 1997, the organization has built a reputation for handling high-profile First Amendment cases involving religious freedom. Their recent Supreme Court victories include the unanimous decision in Groff v. DeJoy, which strengthened workplace religious accommodations, and Carson v. Makin, which expanded school choice options for religious families.
Supreme Court Bar admission requires attorneys to have practiced law for at least three years in good standing before their state's highest court. Beyond these technical qualifications, admission represents recognition of an attorney's expertise and commitment to the highest standards of legal practice. Members of the Supreme Court Bar gain eligibility to argue before the justices, though such opportunities remain rare given that the Court hears only a small fraction of the thousands of cases petitioned each year.
First Liberty Institute has represented clients in numerous landmark Supreme Court cases, including high-profile matters involving Coach Joe Kennedy's prayer case and the Masterpiece Cakeshop religious conscience dispute. The organization continues to play a significant role in shaping religious liberty jurisprudence across America.
The December 3rd ceremony marked a pivotal moment for First Liberty's expanding legal team, positioning these four attorneys among approximately 300,000 members of the Supreme Court Bar nationwide. Their admission enhances the organization's capacity to represent religious liberty interests at the highest level of American jurisprudence, continuing First