The Columbia Law School Federalist Society

We are a tight-knit group of law students interested in the structure of government and modes of statutory and constitutional interpretation.

Our chapter is particularly oriented toward textualist and originalist modes of interpretation. The Society emphasizes the principles of federalism and the separation of powers, and recognizes figures like Alexander Hamilton as spiritual predecessors.

While the Federalist Society is ideologically grounded in legal conservatism, we welcome and celebrate vigorous intellectual debate. Accordingly, we regularly organize debates and discussions that are open to the student body.

The Columbia Federalist Society emphasizes the development of community as one of the chapter’s key goals. We offer a mentorship program, advise members on both job and clerkship interviews, and organize regular chapter outings. We welcome new members regardless of political orientation.

Leadership

Olivia Hidey ‘24 | President

Olivia graduated summa cum laude from George Washington University in 2019 with a degree in Business Economics & Public Policy. Before law school, Olivia spent two years working full-time as a paralegal. Prior to becoming President, Olivia served as VP of Communications. During her 1L summer, Olivia interned at the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. During her 2L fall, Olivia externed for the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. During her 2L summer, Olivia worked for a law firm in Washington, D.C. Olivia will clerk for the Honorable Benjamin J. Beaton (CLS ’09) on the Western District of Kentucky from 2024-25 and the Honorable Cory T. Wilson on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 2025-26.

bill reis ‘24 | President

Bill is from Miami, FL, and graduated from Duke University with a degree in Political Science. Before law school, he obtained his Masters in American Government from Georgetown University while working for the Federalist Society in Washington, DC. Prior to becoming President, Bill was a 1L Representative and the Social & Membership Chair for the Federalist Society, earning the national award for greatest chapter membership growth. In addition to his involvement in the Federalist Society, Bill is a staff member on the Columbia Journal of Tax Law and was previously on the board of the Whiskey & Spirits Club and the Christian Legal Society. During his 1L summer, he interned with the Honorable Benjamin J. Beaton (CLS ’09) on the Western District of Kentucky. After graduation, Bill will clerk for the Honorable Andrew L. Brasher on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit from 2024-25.

brian uhler ‘24 | vp of development

Brian graduated cum laude from the University of Chicago in 2021, where he studied Philosophy and Political Science and played on the varsity football team. Prior to his role as VP of Development, Brian served as VP of Communications. During his 1L summer, Brian externed for the Honorable Christina A. Snyder in the Central District of California. During his 2L summer, he worked at a litigation firm in New York. After graduation, Brian will clerk for the Honorable Steven C. Seeger on the Northern District of Illinois from 2024-25 and the Honorable Cory T. Wilson on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 2025-26.

kenshin cho ‘24 | vp of development

Kenshin is from Tokyo, Japan and graduated from Middlebury College with a degree in Political Science in 2020. After graduating, he worked at a small business that designed and sold adaptive-bicycles and running frames for individuals with a range of physical abilities. At Columbia, he is the treasurer of the Gastronomy society and a staff editor for the Business Law Review. During his 2L summer, he worked for two corporate law firms in New York.

hari asuri ‘24 | vp of events

Hari is from Cherry Hill, NJ and graduated from the George Washington University with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in Finance. After graduating, he spent two years as an analyst in municipal finance, working on fixed income portfolio modelling. He spent his 1L summer as a legal intern for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and he spent his 2L summer at a firm in Washington, D.C. After graduation, Hari will be clerk for the Honorable Ryan D. Nelson on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 

Garrett callen ‘24 | vp of events

Garrett is from Millburn, New Jersey, and graduated from Hamilton College in 2021 with an A.B. in Economics (honors) and Government. Outside of his Federalist Society position, Garrett is an Articles Editor for the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law. He spent his 1L summer as a judicial intern for the Honorable Stephen A. Vaden of the U.S. Court of International Trade and spent his 2L summer in the Washington, D.C. office of an international law firm. After graduation, Garrett will clerk for the Honorable Edith H. Jones on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

daniel whelan ‘24 | VP OF FINANCE

Daniel is from Columbus, Ohio, and graduated cum laude from Washington and Lee University in 2021. At W&L, he double majored in Economics and Mathematics and coauthored research which has since been published in the Economics of Education Review. In addition to his role in the Federalist Society, Daniel served as a staffer on the Columbia Business Law Review. Daniel spent his 1L summer with the New Civil Liberties Alliance in DC, and he spent his 2L summer at a firm in New York.

yaakov resnik ‘24 | vp of finance

Yaakov grew up in New York and graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he studied Business. In addition to his involvement in the Federalist Society, Yaakov has served as a board member of SALT, is a staffer for the Human Rights Law Review, and serves as a remote part-time clerk for the New Civil Liberties Alliance. He spent his 1L summer at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty in Washington, D.C., and worked at the American Law Institute on a forthcoming Restatement of the Law. After graduation, Yaakov will clerk for the Honorable Roy K. Altman on the Southern District of Florida and the Honorable Barbara Lagoa on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

malay trivedi ‘25 | vp of communications

Malay graduated cum laude from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in Public Policy and a minor in Theater and Performance Studies. While in college, Malay ran a small non-profit organization dedicated to addressing social issues in underserved communities. After graduating from college and prior to law school, Malay designed and conducted LSAT-prep classes.

jonathan shapiro ‘25 | vp of communications

Jonathan is from Scarsdale, New York, and graduated cum laude from Columbia University in 2018 with a degree in Economics and Philosophy. After graduating, he earned a B.Phil. in Philosophy at Corpus Christi College, Oxford University, and, during the pandemic, taught students from the elementary through doctoral levels. He spent his 1L summer working at the Liberty Justice Center.