Southwest Montana News

Carroll College alumna Tori Nickol recently completed a fellowship at the Supreme Court of the United States, working in the Office of the Counselor to the Chief Justice. Reflecting on her experience, she described her role as encompassing several responsibilities, including briefing international visitors on the federal court system, overseeing interns in the Supreme Court Internship Program, and conducting research for the federal judiciary.

Nickol shared that she welcomed foreign jurists and judges to the Supreme Court, providing interactive briefings about U.S. courts while learning about their legal systems. "I ultimately met with delegations from over three dozen countries and learned something from each one," she noted.

Her involvement with the Supreme Court Internship Program was a highlight of her year. She directly oversaw interns and co-taught classes aimed at developing foundational skills. "Encouraging an interest in the law and bearing witness to the enthusiasm of the students was a delight," she said.

During her fellowship, Nickol also produced a paper on court administration, collaborating with researchers and lawyers from various judicial bodies. She presented her work to a committee of federal judges last spring.

Nickol recounted some unexpected duties during her fellowship, such as assisting with events honoring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. She also spoke to high school classes about democratic institutions and helped review new public exhibits at the Court.

The fellowship provided opportunities for Nickol to attend over twenty Supreme Court oral arguments and tour significant sites like the Libraries of Congress and The White House. Despite these experiences, she felt drawn back to Montana.

This fall, Nickol began working as an Assistant United States Attorney in Montana's District U.S. Attorney’s Office, focusing on violent crime prosecution in Indian Country. Her role involves managing criminal cases through various phases of litigation.

Reflecting on her career path, Nickol emphasized a core value instilled by a mentor: "the rule of law is something we all do together." She hopes her work contributes positively to this principle.

Nickol holds a B.A., summa cum laude, in Political Science from Carroll College and a J.D., with high honors, from the University of Montana School of Law.