Emmett Bailey decided early in high school that a legal career was the right fit for him when he worked for a local small-town attorney. He graduated summa cum laude from Utah State University with a bachelor’s degree in law and constitutional studies. Since enrolling at the S.J. Quinney College of Law in fall 2024, he’s enjoyed the law building and surrounding area, especially its proximity to the outdoors.
Bailey first heard about the Federalist Society from a group of attorneys who were members and recommended he participate in it once he began law school. Now in his 2L year, and passionate about constitutional law and policy work, Bailey is vice-president of the Federalist Society’s Utah Law student chapter.
Leading Utah Law’s Federalist Society
“After my 1L year, I liked it enough to try for a more active role in leadership. What I enjoy most about this club is being able to connect with like-minded students and network with lawyers and judges,” he says.
The Federalist Society is a nationwide organization founded by a group of law students interested in promoting the awareness and application of “the principles of limited government embodied in the Constitution.” As such, the society largely fosters legal topic debate and discussion, with an emphasis on originalist or textualist interpretations.
And for 3L Alessandra Coote, this concept of originalism initially attracted her to the society at Utah Law. Having spent five years as an engineer officer in the U.S. Army and then working as a data scientist, Coote is passionate about the intersection of law and technology.
“I like the concept of originalism/textualism, even if I didn’t fully understand the application of it when I first joined,” Coote, who serves along with Bailey as president of the student organization, says. “In the military, I’m used to operating within a rigid rule structure, so originalism was a natural fit, and the Federalist Society provides a forum to explore those applications.”
Members of the society may lean more toward conservative or libertarian views, but both Coote and Bailey welcome all Utah Law students to attend and participate in the Federalist Society’s events, where they engage one to two speakers per month for discussion.
“We do not represent a single political ideology but remain committed to the Constitution and to faithfully interpret it. We welcome students of all ideologies to come to our events to discuss and debate issues,” Coote says. “My goal as president of the Federalist Society here at Utah Law is to build an environment where students can be exposed to the different flavors of originalism and how it can be applied in very different ways.”
Indeed, faculty advisor Professor Paul Cassell, who enjoys showing the “Fed Soc” students how their constitutional and legal questions can have multiple answers, describes the organization as a ‘“big tent’ for conservative, libertarian and heterodox thinkers of all types” to convene for discussion.
“Famously, the Federalist Society always tries to sponsor debates and panels where all points of view are presented, on the theory that in a true marketplace of ideas, the best ideas will prevail,” Cassell says.
In addition to the rigorous debates and discussions, the Federalist Society organizes events for students to meet and network with other professionals within the organization’s lawyer chapter. During fall semester, they held a lunch for students to meet with Utah Attorney General Derek Brown.
“My favorite part about the Federalist Society is the professional mentorship. Working with the lawyers’ chapter has introduced me to highly intelligent and deeply caring attorneys. These individuals have shaped my professional development these past two years. I’m eternally grateful for their support and the doors they’ve opened for me. One day, I want to pay it forward,” Coote says.
Preparing for the future
Coote will graduate at the end of spring semester and looks forward to practicing law, while Bailey has a year left of law school and is considering either the JAGS corps or policy work.
Currently, he is continuing an externship with the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate in the Army Reserves at Fort Douglas.
“The OSJA has allowed me to have significant hands-on experience in their operations. The chief of military justice has taken me under his wing and has been teaching me how to take a soldier’s misconduct from the initial disclosure to a separation board,” Bailey says. “Additionally, I’m currently serving in the Utah Army National Guard. Since I’m familiar with military rules and regulations, this has allowed me to hit the ground running and access and participate in some functions of the OSJA not typically available for student externs.”
Learn more about participating in Utah Law’s Federalist Society chapter.