Recent MC grad, now law student, argues case in U.S. Court of Appeals

Feb. 24, 2010
Contact: Ann Nicholson, Director of External Affairs
Washington University School of Law

Erin Phillippi Rust ’06 recently argued a case in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Rust, now a third-year law student at Washington University in St. Louis, is a participant in Washington University Law’s Appellate Clinic. The clinic is one of a handful of programs that provides law students with an opportunity to represent clients in the second highest courts in the United States.

Rust says she considers arguing before the court to be the most important experience she’s had at law school, and is certain that the foundation she gained from Maryville College was integral to her recent achievement.

“It has always been my dream to argue an appeal in the federal courts,” she says. “Maryville College certainly provided me with the necessary academic skills, but more importantly, MC also cultivated the confidence I needed to go after my ambitions.”

To prepare for the argument, Rust worked closely with two other students and Professor Bruce La Pierre, who has argued numerous cases in the Federal Courts of Appeals and in the United States Supreme Court. After working together to develop a strategy, Rust underwent three practice arguments before distinguished faculty. Her experience culminated with her standing before a panel of three Eighth Circuit judges, arguing her case and answering their questions.

“Erin did an excellent job of presenting her client’s case,” La Pierre says. “She had complete mastery of the record and answered all of the court’s questions.”

Rust’s case, Munson v. Norris, which she argued on Feb. 11, 2010, raises an important issue of constitutional law: whether a state can require an inmate to complete a religious-based rehabilitation program, without the option of a secular alternative, in order to achieve parole. Rust argued on behalf of Mr. Munson, who was denied parole because he failed to complete a religious-based rehabilitation program.

The clinic and their client are currently waiting for a ruling from the judges, which could take several months.

Erin is married to Andrew Rust ’06, a classmate from MC. She is the daughter of alumni Dr. Raymond Phillippi ’69 and Georgia Briggs Phillippi ’70 of Knoxville and graduated from Knoxville’s Austin-East Magnet High School.

Maryville College is ideally situated in Maryville, Tenn., between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Knoxville, the state‘s third largest city. Founded in 1819, it is the 12th oldest institution of higher learning in the South and maintains an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Known for its academic rigor and its focus on the liberal arts, Maryville is where students come to stretch their minds, stretch themselves and learn how to make a difference in the world. Total enrollment for the fall 2011 semester was 1,078.