From Newsroom to Courtroom: Anthony Leonardi’s Path to Law
While reporting breaking news for the paper, Leonardi, a 2024 graduate of the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law, seized an opportunity to cover the Supreme Court, ultimately igniting his spark to pursue a law degree.
To become a better reporter, Leonardi started listening to Supreme Court oral arguments and reading court opinions. Inspired by justices on the court, Leonardi said, “All the justices were so smart and so thoughtful. I wanted to be around more people like that.”
Frequent travels to South Dakota for his father’s job cultivated Leonardi’s love for the state. When the COVID-19 pandemic required his family to make a full-time move to the state, Leonardi followed.
“Knowing my desire to help people, my father asked the question, 'Could South Dakota be the state you help?',” said Leonardi, which motivated him to pursue his Juris Doctor at the USD Knudson School of Law.
Transitioning from a career in journalism to law school, Leonardi questioned if he had made the right choice and even considered transferring to another school. During his first year, Professor Thomas Horton noticed Leonardi’s unease and reminded him that USD values students for what they can achieve, rather than just what they can do for the institution.
“Not many professors as respectable as Professor Horton would say something like that if it weren’t true,” said Leonardi. “And he was right. I am proud to be a Yote.”
Combining his background in journalism and his passion for helping people, Leonardi came to discover the importance of storytelling in law.
“When you try to define the law, you have to think about the purpose of the law and the reason it exists,” said Leonardi. “Behind every reason for the law, there is a person with a story. To forget these stories is to forget the law’s purpose, and that it is for human flourishing.”
During his time at South Dakota’s only law school, Leonardi stood out as an excellent student and service-minded leader. He placed multiple times in Alternative Dispute Resolution competitions, received the Thomas J. Horton Award for Trial Advocacy in his third year and the Dean’s Leadership Award at hooding.
Leonardi served as the president of Trial Team, lead articles editor for the South Dakota Law Review, and a member of the Christian Legal Society, Delta Theta Phi and Student Media Advisory Board.
He also served as president of the South Dakota Federalist Society Student Chapter president during his second year of law school. Under his leadership, the chapter received the Federalist Society’s Alexander Hamilton Award for Most Improved Chapter at the 2023 National Student Symposium in Austin, Texas. Leonardi attributes this success, among many others, to the society’s focus on community.
“A love for the community is an extension of love for family,” said Leonardi. “We share the law; the law is for all of us because we share a community. That’s why we do a welcome barbecue every fall and movie nights. We don’t win anything by creating controversy for its own sake.”
Leonardi graduated in May and has accepted a federal clerkship with Judge Wendy W. Berger, J.D., a federal district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Originally from Lighthouse Point, Florida, Leonardi said he feels ready and is looking forward to supporting Berger.
Leonardi’s long-term career goals include serving South Dakota through the law and, hopefully, one day, through public office. But first, he says he wants to create a record of working to enact change through advocacy.
“People don’t view law the way it used to be. It’s no longer seen as the system in which we order ourselves for the common good or to help the community flourish," said Leonardi. "It’s become more about a fight to tear others down. I want to improve that.”
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