Committing to Tradition and Constitutional Studies

“Strike the flame and let it rise.”  

With these words, Father Bonaventure Chapman, O.P., introduced Columbus School of Law Professor J. Joel Alicea as he assumed the St. Bellarmine Endowed Chair of Law on March 18, 2025.

Selecting Professor Alicea and his field of legal expertise indicates the profound commitment that Catholic University of America has to both excellence in academics and engaging in ideas that shape our nation and world. During his illustrious career, Alicea has focused his work on Constitutional Originalism as inspired by Hegel and St. Thomas Aquinas, two crucial philosophers for understanding the intersections of Catholic doctrine, morality, and modern law.   

As President Peter Kilpatrick noted during the ceremony, this endowed chair bears the name of St. Bellarmine in honor of a cardinal who “engaged in intellectual debate to defend Catholic principles” and is a good patron for ethical legal scholarship. Provost Aaron Dominguez during his remarks also underscored the importance of endowed chairs, as they represent “a critical pillar of intellectual advancement” that drive progress in both the University and the wider Church community.

The St. Bellarmine Endowed Chair was made possible by the generosity of benefactor Leonard Leo, a trustee of both the Marble Freedom Trust and Catholic University.

After receiving these honors, Professor Alicea greeted the audience and addressed his family and colleagues. With immense gratitude, he recalled a conversation with the Dean of the Columbus School of Law Stephen Payne about his invitation to join the Law School as an associate professor back in 2020. Still hesitant, he went to talk to Dean Payne who told him: “I know what I’m about to tell you probably won’t affect your decision much, but I want you to consider whether you’re being called by the Lord to help me build up this law school as a service to the Church.”

With this in mind, Alicea started his professorship at the Catholic University of America and has been a key element in the flourishing of the School of Law ever since. 

Prior to this academic position, he practiced law at the law firm of Cooper & Kirk, PLLC, where he specialized in constitutional litigation. He previously served as a clerk for Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., on the U.S. Supreme Court and for Judge Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 

Now, as the inaugural St. Robert Bellarmine Professor of Law and Director of the Law School’s Center for the Constitution and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, he hopes to continue inspiring young law students to bring faith and reason to their profession in today’s often contentious landscape of justice.

Watch Prof. Alicea's Lecture, "Constitutional Theory at a Catholic University":