University of Illinois Springfield Professor of Legal Studies Deborah Anthony was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States during a June 18 ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The admission allows Anthony to practice before the nation's highest court. Only a select group of attorneys are admitted to the Supreme Court Bar each year.

Anthony was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts in the presence of the full court. Before the court convened, Roberts met privately with the group of attorneys being admitted.

The ceremony followed the court's announcement of its decisions for the day. Although cameras were not permitted inside the courtroom, Anthony said the opportunity to witness the proceedings and take part in the ceremony was a memorable moment in her legal career.

“It was a tremendous honor to be sworn in as a member of the Supreme Court Bar,” Anthony said. “It was especially meaningful to take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States in front of the nation’s highest court. The experience served as a powerful reminder of the privilege and responsibility of practicing law and serving our system of justice. It reaffirmed my dedication to serving the public and working to make our justice system stronger for future generations.”

Anthony has taught at UIS since 2006 and serves as chair of the Department of Legal Studies and director of the UIS Pre-Law Center.

She earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of Utah, a master's degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University.

Before joining UIS, Anthony practiced law on behalf of low-income clients, focusing on family law, domestic violence, civil rights and housing issues.

Her teaching and research focus on constitutional law, family law, employment discrimination and gender law. She has also worked with organizations assisting asylum seekers and immigrant families, including Project Corazon and Proyecto Dilley.