When Atticus DeProspo, a 2019 graduate of The University of Alabama School of Law, was growing up, he admired his parents’ careers in law — how they used their skills to help others, advocate for justice and solve complex problems.
Following in their footsteps and pursuing a legal degree at Alabama Law, DeProspo calls it “one of the best decisions” of his life.
“The education that I received, the mentorship that I received at Alabama Law was fantastic,” said DeProspo. “If I could go back in time, I would make the same decision all over again.”
Today, that decision continues to shape his career in extraordinary ways. Just six years after graduation, DeProspo serves as merits counsel in a complex, high-stakes pro bono case before the U.S. Supreme Court. At the same time, he’s being recognized for his leadership in the legal community, earning the Bar Association of the District of Columbia’s Young Lawyer of the Year award for his commitment to expanding access to legal aid.
The Pursuit of Justice: A Case Before the Nation’s Highest Court
As an associate at Williams & Connolly LLP, one of the country’s most respected litigation firms, DeProspo has already made his mark. His latest challenge — representing an indigent criminal defendant, Holsey Ellingburg Jr. — is both legally complex and deeply meaningful.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Ellingburg v. United States on Oct. 14, 2025, marking a significant moment in a case that questions how far the government’s restitution powers can reach under the Constitution’s Ex Post Facto Clause.
Appointed pro bono in 2023 to represent Ellingburg in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, DeProspo cannot comment directly on the case. But records show it centers on whether retroactively applying the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act — a federal law that requires a court to order convicted defendants in certain serious crimes to pay full financial compensation directly to their victims for losses like property damage, medical bills, and lost wages increases punishment — to certain criminal defendants’ restitution orders is a violation of the Constitution.
At the heart of the case lies a simple question: Is criminal restitution under the Mandatory Victim Restitution Act (MVRA) penal for purposes of the Ex Post Facto Clause? The answer could reshape how restitution laws are applied in criminal cases.
The Road to the Supreme Court
DeProspo along with his colleagues managed the case from the ground up — drafting the briefs, DeProspo himself arguing before the Eighth Circuit, and navigating multiple appeals. When the lower court ruled against his client, he and his team petitioned the Supreme Court for review.
In an unusual twist, the federal government later declined to defend the lower court’s ruling, switching sides to support Ellingburg’s argument. The Supreme Court appointed an independent amicus curiae to defend the prior decision — a rare move that underscored the case’s constitutional importance.
Now, with DeProspo’s name appearing on every major filing before the Court, he stands at the forefront of a legal debate that could have far-reaching consequences for criminal restitution law.
“I’m really passionate about getting to work at a law firm like Williams & Connolly,” DeProspo said. “We have a tremendous number of resources and very talented lawyers, and we use those skills to advocate for clients who can’t afford our services on pro bono matters. That’s something I care deeply about — it’s why I became a lawyer.”
On January 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion, authored by Justice Kavanaugh, agreeing with Ellingburg’s argument that criminal restitution under the MVRA is penal for purposes of the Ex Post Facto Clause. Click here to read the full opinion.
A Foundation Built on Service
For DeProspo, pro bono work isn’t just a professional responsibility — it’s a personal calling. He credits Alabama Law’s strong emphasis on public service, including its Clinical Guarantee, for planting that seed early on.
“Alabama Law is very focused on ensuring its graduates give back to their communities,” he said. “Even though I work at a private firm handling complex commercial litigation, I’ve found ways to serve through pro bono work. That mindset was instilled in me during my time at Alabama Law.”
That same commitment to service has now earned him national recognition. This December, DeProspo was honored in Washington, DC, as Young Lawyer of the Year by the Bar Association of the District of Columbia. The award celebrates his leadership in raising funds for legal aid organizations that provide critical services to residents in need. DeProspo along with the other law firm associate coordinators raised $4.2 million during the summer 2025 for Legal Aid DC to expand legal representation to those unable to afford lawyers to secure their basic needs.
“I’m very grateful and humbled to be honored as Young Lawyer of the Year — it was totally unexpected,” DeProspo said. “It is a testament to the generosity of my colleagues at the firm who give to our campaign every year. It is great to be recognized, but really, it’s a reflection of the people I work with at Williams & Connolly.”
Full Circle
From his days as a law student in Tuscaloosa to his work now at one of the nation’s highest legal stages, DeProspo’s journey reflects the values at the core of an Alabama Law education: service, excellence, and advocacy for those who need it most.
Whether standing before the U.S. Supreme Court or helping raise funds for access to justice, his career stands as a reminder that the pursuit of law is ultimately the pursuit of something greater — the power to make a difference.
Story by Brenda Duran