UK Rosenberg College of Law Hosts Conversation with Judge Andrew Oldham

The University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law hosted Judge Andrew Oldham of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for a conversation on Thursday, March 6. The event, part of The John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary, took place in the G. Chad Perry III Grand Courtroom of the law building. Judge Amul Thapar of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit served as the moderator.

Paul Salamanca, acting dean of the UK Rosenberg College of Law, welcomed attendees and distinguished guests. Salamanca recognized Dr. Martha Heyburn and thanked her for her ongoing support of the college.

UK Vice Provost Jana Jasinski noted the long-lasting impact of John G. Heyburn II not only because of his rulings and other actions from the bench but also through the people he mentored.

“Thanks to the Rosenberg College of Law and the John G. Heyburn II initiative, we can carry on this storied legacy of serving Kentucky and our communities,” Jasinski said. “My hope is that Judge Heyburn, especially, would be proud of how his alma mater has continued to uphold his enduring legacy of passion for the law and service for others.”

Jack Heyburn, principal deputy solicitor general for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, provided background on the initiative founded in honor of his father. The nonpartisan Heyburn Initiative is dedicated to promoting and highlighting excellence in the federal judiciary through speaking events and by compiling judicial records and oral histories.

Thapar opened the discussion by asking Oldham about his decision to attend law school. Oldham shared that he initially went to college to follow in his parents’ footsteps and become a doctor.

“I realized that not only was law intellectually interesting, not only was it an opportunity to study things I really, deeply cared about from the American founding, but it is the profession that protects the others,” Oldham said. “In many ways, it is the most noble of professions for that reason, and I fell in love with it.”

From there, Oldham proceeded to share insights and anecdotes about his career journey from law school to his current role on the bench. Oldham served as a law clerk to Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. at the Supreme Court of the United States and to Judge David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Oldham also worked as attorney-adviser in the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice from 2006-2008.

Prior to ascending to the bench, Oldham served as general counsel to Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Earlier in his career, he served as deputy solicitor general for the State of Texas, where he represented Texas in federal courts across the country, including twice before the U.S. Supreme Court. Before moving to Texas, Oldham was an attorney at Kellogg Hansen Todd Figel & Frederick in Washington, D.C. His practice focused on appellate litigation in federal courts throughout the country.

Thapar asked Oldham to share more about his experience working at a firm for the law students in the audience. Oldham spoke highly of the firm in Washington, D.C. his colleagues and clients, and said he learned a lot from the experience. He said his experience at the firm made him the lawyer that he later became.

Oldham engaged with attendees by answering questions during the event and continuing conversations afterward. Daniel Martell, a third-year law student from Owensboro, Kentucky, said he has attended every Heyburn Initiative event during his time in law school. Martell said he would like to clerk at the federal level and these events help him to learn “how federal judges look at their work, and how they look at the world.”

“They make the decisions that end up impacting everyone else,” he said. “These events give us a window into the life of a federal judge.”