Holmes Hampton

Ninth Circuit Appellate Clinic

Holmes Hampton, Ninth Circuit Appellate Clinic

Holmes Hampton was a star among stars in the Ninth Circuit Appellate Clinic. With a fellow student, Holmes represented a client who was denied relief from removal to his home country, notwithstanding strong evidence that the client would face persecution and torture there. Holmes hit the ground running at the beginning of his 3L year: he reviewed his client’s one-thousand-page immigration court record, researched the relevant law, and strategized about what issues to raise on appeal. Holmes left no stone unturned in his effort to become an expert on all matters in his client’s case. And he succeeded. He co-drafted and filed an exceptional petitioner’s opening brief, and after carefully reviewing the government’s answering brief during the winter break, he co-drafted and filed a pointed reply brief. Holmes capped off his Loyola career by delivering oral argument to a panel of judges at the Ninth Circuit’s Pasadena courthouse—an experience many litigators do not get in their entire career. Through every stage of the case, Holmes was a calm, determined, and steady presence. He regularly volunteered to step up at any hour of the day to tackle a tricky research question or fine-tune a draft brief. Holmes is skilled beyond his years, and his future clients will be fortunate to have his counsel.