Hi Anthony, welcome to Hot Bench! Thanks for joining me. We’ll start off with the usual: Where are you from, where did you go for undergrad, and what brought you to law school?
Sure, Andrew. Thanks for this opportunity. It’s a pleasure. I’m from Goshen, New York, which is about an hour outside of New York City. I like to call it the suburbs of New York City, but other people say it’s upstate because it has a rural aspect to it. It’s a terrific place, and I intend to go back and settle there someday.
I went to Colgate University in upstate New York and had a very interesting time there. Great professors, a lot of great people. I do miss Colgate, and I still have some good relationships with people there.
I came to law school straight through. I knew that I wanted to be a lawyer since I was ten or eleven. My dad’s a policeman, and he would talk sometimes about his work, like removing children from an abusive household, for instance. And I was able to see from those stories that law from a public perspective can be great. And my mother is an accountant, but she always said that she regrets not being a tax attorney. So I had those forces pushing me.
I’ve also always appreciated logic. I feel like, unfortunately, today, people often let emotion override them too much or even ideology. In law school, you’re trained to make logical arguments.
You’ve always seemed to me to be a very determined person. Do you think of yourself as all business, work-hard, play-hard, or none of those?
I think I’m a work-hard, play-hard type of person. I like to travel. I love the beach, especially the Delaware beaches, which are terrific, and I encourage everyone to go. Underrated but beautiful.
I’m trying to get better at golf. It’s something that I really want to improve at. I’m also involved with my church here in Charlottesville. It provides balance and some purpose to my life, which I find comforting and helpful.
Anyone who’s met you probably knows you’re really into Rockefeller Republicanism. Can you say what that is and how you became passionate about it?
I wrote my political science thesis on it, and when friends come over to my house, that’s like the first thing I show them. To summarize, Rockefeller Republicanism is basically liberal Republicans. They’re moderate old-school liberals in that they believe in expanding rights. We’re not afraid of using the government to improve society.
I argue in my thesis that where you’ve had Rockefeller Republican executives, the societies have done very well. If you look at New York City, they had twenty years of Rockefeller Republican leadership. You had two terms of Rudy Giuliani—who at the time was much different than he is today. You had three terms of Bloomberg after that. And the city did extremely well during that time by basically every metric—economy-wise, crime-wise, housing expansions.
Statewide, George Pataki was governor for twelve years, and New York state did very well economically. Connecticut had Jodi Rell, very popular. Larry Hogan in Maryland. He was a good governor by most metrics. So I just think it has a good track record, not only in terms of results but also in terms of who feels like they’re being represented by the government.
Being a New Yorker, were you into Rockefeller Republicanism from a young age or did you discover it later in life?
Probably in college because when I joined the local Republicans Club at Colgate—I don’t mean to insult them, but they were very, very doctrinaire in the conservative, right-wing ideology. No moderation. Any deviation from Trump was discouraged. And I wondered, is there any alternative to this under the Republican banner? I did some research, and I found Rockefeller Republicanism.
What was the biggest moment in 2024 that you’re still thinking about?
I think when I got my job offer from the Army. I’m very grateful for that. That was terrific and something that I’ll never forget.
Ooh, on a related note, what are you most excited for after graduating and what will you miss most about law school?
I’m excited about being more productive. I just turned 25, and I feel like I’m not as productive a member of society as I could be by just sitting in the classroom and learning. I feel like I’m not maximizing my potential.
The thing that I’ll miss most about law school? The community. I’m very grateful for my friends. It’s going to be a challenge maintaining contact. But I hope to see people, whether it’s at the beach or elsewhere.
For the 1Ls who are just starting their second semester, which do you think is tougher: 1L fall or 1L spring?
I personally thought 1L fall was more difficult because I had no idea how the testing was going to go, and I was stressed about that. I didn’t know if my study habits would be sufficient for law school because I basically studied the same way as in undergrad.
All the 1Ls reading this have already gotten through the fall, so I would say that once you’re through the initial wave, it’s more smooth sailing. Not easy sailing, but you can be more confident.
It’s the same answer for me! Though I feel like so many people say spring was harder. Net zero information for the 1Ls.
Okay, lightning round! What’s the best thing you’ve had to eat lately?
I’m a big fan of fettuccine alfredo with shrimp. That’s my go-to meal. I just went for my birthday to Carmello’s, which is a great restaurant.
What’s a book that everyone should read?
I’ll give you two. Governor Rockefeller in New York: The Apex of Pragmatic Liberalism in the United States by William Daniels and James Underwood. Terrific book.
The other is Javits: The Autobiography of a Public Man. Jacob Javits was in the Senate for twenty-five years or so. He was a Rockefeller Republican, and he details the ideology, what led him to it, and his thinking.
Favorite study spot?
My apartment, because it’s quiet. But I also like the second-floor library behind the reference desk.
What’s a place you’ve always wanted to visit?
One of my bar trips is going to be to Patagonia. I’m looking forward to that because . . . it’s like you’re at the bottom of the world.
Will you wear Patagonia while you’re there?
Probably not. I’m not a fan of preppy clothes. I just dress in what’s most comfortable.
Hahaha, I figured that would be your answer. Favorite student affairs snack?
I like the Ritz crackers with the cheese whiz-type stuff.
Great pick. Who are you rooting for in the Super Bowl this weekend?
The Chiefs. I like Mahomes a lot. I think he’s a class act. Obviously, there’s a dynasty component, and I think that is in a way admirable. The Eagles, I’m not really a fan of.
We’re united on that. As a Pats fan, I’m still salty about the 2018 Super Bowl. Sorry Philly folks.
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Interviewed by Andrew Allard '25