The day before the Florida-Georgia football game, another competition will be taking Jacksonville by storm.

The Florida/Georgia-Hulsey/Gambrell moot court competition will be returning for the first time since 2010 between the University of Florida Levin College of Law Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Team and the University of Georgia’s moot court team. The 32^nd annual competition will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 26 at the 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals Courtroom on the 13th floor of the Jacksonville federal courthouse.

This year’s competition concerns a preacher convicted of federal crimes resulting from his murder of an abortionist. Issues include whether a post-verdict affidavit concerning racist comments by jurors is barred from consideration, whether the U.S. assistant attorneys’ preemptory challenges based upon religious beliefs are valid and whether the defendant received a constitutionally guaranteed fair trial.

UF Law’s William Anderson (3L) and Matthew Goodwin (2L), coached by Robert O’Linn (3L), will represent the respondents. The panel of judges will include Judge Paul C. Huck, Judge B. Avant Edenfield, Judge Gerald B. Tjoflat, Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and Judge Peter T. Fay.

“I am thrilled to be a part of a tradition lasting more than 30 years,” Goodwin said. “I think our team has the stronger of the two positions and I am confident that Florida can reclaim its title and the trophy will return to its home in Gainesville.”

Previously the Florida/Georgia-Hulsey/Kimbrell competition, it did not occur in 2011 because there were not funds available to pay the event’s expenses. Fortunately, Atlanta-based law firm Smith Gambrell & Russell agreed to co-sponsor the event this year with Smith Hulsey & Busey.

Dean Robert Jerry will speak on behalf of UF Law and Former Dean David Shipley will speak for UGA Law. The event is open to the public.

Florida Moot Court Team members Amanda Finley (3L), Bob O’Linn (2L) and Nick Andrews (2L) traveled to the 20th Annual Honorable Conrad B. Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition hosted by St. John’s University in New York March 10-12.

Duberstein is the largest one-site Moot Court competition in the nation, with well over 50 teams from across the country competing. Finley, O’Linn, and Andrews survived the gauntlet with an impressive display of advocacy and cruised into the semifinal round, as one of the top four teams, where they eventually fell short against the eventual champions from UT-Austin, finishing in a tie for third overall. In addition to their remarkable run, the trio took home the coveted Best Brief Award for the competition, which is the first for the Florida Moot Court team since Fall 2010.

This honor was not without merit, as Finley, O’Linn, and Andrews worked tirelessly on the brief, fine-tuning it to near perfection. For Finley, this will be a tremendous warm-up as she will be competing with her fellow classmates next month at the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition in Vienna, Austria. Meanwhile, O’Linn and Andrews are well-prepared to carry the mantle for the Florida Moot Court Team into 2012-2013.

While the team has demonstrated a promising growth in written advocacy, the team continued its dominance at oral advocacy at the American Bar Association’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition last month at the Atlanta Regional. There, the Florida Moot Court Team sent two teams of competitors: Leigh Anne Siddle (3L), Dan Lazaro (3L), and Jordan Peterson (3L) consisted of one team, while Andrew Labbe (3L), Dylan Shea (2L), and Kelsey Veitengruber (2L) were the second team. Each survived to the Quarterfinal round of the Regional. From there, the team of Labbe, Shea, and Veitengruber advanced to the Regional Final.

As expected, they did not leave empty-handed, as Dylan Shea brought home the Best Oralist award for the Regional, and Labbe was named Runner-up to Shea. These accomplishments were not surprising, as both Labbe and Shea consistently finished with the top scores in every round. This success wasn’t just limited to Shea and Labbe, as each of the competitors received high scores in each of the rounds.

For the team of Siddle, Lazaro, and Peterson, they could not overcome an unlucky matchup with the team that ultimately received the Best Brief award. Meanwhile Labbe, Shea, and Veitengruber found themselves on the wrong side of a tie-breaking vote in the final round.

Nevertheless, the Florida Moot Court Team is well positioned to make another run at a Top 16 ranking nationally with several competitions left in a variety of subjects before the year is over. This past weekend, the Florida Moot Court Team sent two teams to competitions in New York City (Entertainment Law) and Boston (Intellectual Property). Soon, the team will travel to competitions focusing on Evidence, Criminal, and Constitutional Law. For 1Ls who are interested in litigation or possess an insatiable competitive-streak, the Florida Moot Court Team will be holding informational and tabling sessions in the near future regarding tryouts this summer and will soon have a TWEN page with more details.

Competitors from left, Andrew Labbe, Dylan Shea, Kelsey Veitengruber, Leigh Anne Siddle, Jordan Peterson and Dan Lazaro stand in front of judges from left, Bradford L. Thomas, Stephanie W. Ray, William Terrell Hodges and Thomas B. Smith.

The 28th annual Maguire Appellate Advocacy Competition impressed law students and legal professionals alike on Friday, Feb. 17, in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center courtroom.

Among the many in attendance was a distinguished panel of judges, including Senior United States District Judge William Terrell Hodges (LLB 58) from the Middle District of Florida; First District Court of Appeals Judges Stephanie W. Ray and Bradford L. Thomas (JD 82); and United States Magistrate Judge Thomas B. Smith (JD 77) from the Middle District of Florida.

The fictional case brought on appeal, Ryan Reed vs. Oliver Porth and Pluribus Health, challenged a state’s power to limit Medicaid coverage to autistic children.

Dylan Shea (2L), and Andrew Labbe (3L) represented the petitioner, while Daniel Lazaro (3L) and Jordan Peterson (3L) represented the respondent. The competitors were also supported by alternates Leigh Anne Siddle (3L) and Kelsey Veitengruber (2L).

While the petitioner and respondent presented their arguments, the judges interjected with questions; a challenge that showcased the oral advocacy abilities of the competitors.

To conclude the competition, Judge Hodges announced Peterson as best oralist and the respondent as best team.

“The presentations were excellent,” Judge Hodges said before announcing the winners.

The Maguire competition is named after Raymer F. Maguire Jr. (JD 15), managing partner of Maguire, Voorhis & Wells, P.A., and UF Law alumnus. In 1998, Maguire, Voorhis & Wells, P.A. merged with Holland & Knight LLP, who continues the tradition of sponsoring the competition.

Moot Court members clockwise from left, Dylan Shea, Dan Lazaro, Andrew Labbe, Leigh Anne Siddle, Jordan Peterson and Kelsey Veitengruber prepare for the annual Maguire competition Friday.

The University of Florida Levin College of Law on Friday will welcome a distinguished panel of Florida judges to preside over the 28th annual Maguire Appellate Advocacy Competition. The competition begins at 10 a.m. in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center courtroom. The event is free and open to the public. It will also be streamed live here.

This year’s panel includes Senior United States District Judge William Terrell Hodges, from the Middle District of Florida; First District Court of Appeal’s Judges Stephane W. Ray and Bradford L. Thomas; and United States Magistrate Judge Thomas B. Smith from the Middle District of Florida.

“We are honored to host such a distinguished panel of judges,” said Leigh Anne Siddle (3L), president of the Florida Moot Court Team. “Their assistance in preparing our competitors will ensure success in the upcoming American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition. We encourage all to attend to witness excellence in oral advocacy.”

The Maguire competition provides the Florida Moot Court Team with valuable practice and the distinguished panel will provide useful critiques regarding their oral arguments before the teams proceed to compete in the premier ABA competition. This year’s competitors are Daniel Lazaro (3L), Jordan Peterson (3L), Dylan Shea (2L) and Andrew Labbe (3L). The competitors are supported by alternates Leigh Anne Siddle (3L) and Kelsey Veitengruber (2L).

One of the foremost national moot court teams, the Florida Moot Court Team competes each year at over a dozen tournaments throughout the country. Founded in 1961, the team’s mission is to promote excellence in appellate advocacy. Most recently, the Florida Moot Court Team accomplished this goal at the Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship in Houston. This competition is an invitation-only event extended to the top-ranked national teams. At this competition, team member Alex Landback won National Best Speaker for the entire competition.

Originally, the Maguire Appellate Advocacy Competition was sponsored by the Orlando law firm of Maguire, Voorhis & Wells, P.A. The competition is named after Raymer F. Maguire, Jr., son of the founder of Maguire, Voorhis & Wells, P.A., managing partner of the firm, and UF Law alumnus. In the summer of 1998, Maguire, Voorhis & Wells, P.A. merged with the law firm of Holland & Knight LLP, who also became a sponsor of the competition.

Moot Court team members from left to right: Ryan Hopper, Monica Haddad, Alex Landback and Celia Thacker.

Alex Landback knows how to talk the talk.

The third-year UF Law student took the award for Nation’s Best Speaker on January 28 at the fourth annual Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship.

While being named the best advocate at the National Championship certainly puts Landback in a class of his own, it’s not Landback’s first best-oralist award. Landback also took the award for best oral advocate at the Robert Orseck Memorial Moot Court Competition at the Florida Bar Convention in June.

“It’s about preparation,” Landback said. “It’s all about having the confidence and going in and having a conversation with the judges.”

Hosted by the Blakely Advocacy Institute at the University of Houston Law Center, the national competition pitted the nation’s top 16 moot court programs to solve two different legal issues centered on contaminating water with pollutants and whether or not a person can corrupt a witness to unduly invoke his or her Fifth Amendment right.

While UF Law did not advance to the quarterfinals in the competition, this award begins to carve an oral-advocacy dynasty for UF Law, as Wilbert Vancol (JD 11) won the National Best Advocate award at the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition in April.

Although the Florida Moot Court team is building a national reputation for excellence in appellate advocacy, Landback is quick to point out the source of their success. “I am honored to win such a prestigious award, but honestly I could not have done it without the support and patience of my teammates and coaches.”

The Houston team consisted of Landback, Monica Haddad (3L), and Celia Thacker (3L), who held rigorous practices leading up to their departure. Haddad argued the environmental issue for The Florida Moot Court team and received glowing praise for her poise and persuasion. Additionally, Aaron Wasserstrom (3L) and Ryan Hopper (2L) served as coaches for the Houston team and ensured the competitors were ready for whatever came their way from the judges. And it showed. In fact, between Haddad and Landback, they had the highest individual score from 11 of the 12 judges in the four preliminary rounds.

This success on the national stage is only the beginning for the Florida Moot Court Team, as it will be sending nine nine teams to other competitions across the country this semester. Considering the start in Houston, the best may be yet to come.

• Vice President of External Affairs: Ryan Gilbert
• Vice President of Internal Affairs: Dylan Shea
• Secretary: Robert O’Linn
• Chair of Historical Society: Kim Tolland
• Vice-Chair of Historical Society: Amanda Brooks
• Intramural Competition Co-Chair: Joseph Somake
• Intramural Competition Co-Chair: Kelsey Veitengruber
• Vice-Chair for Intermural Competitions: Amy Podolsky
• Chair of Special Events: Danielle Grundt
• Vice-Chair of Special Events: Amy Limontes
• Chair of Education and Training: Ryan Hopper.

In January, they will join current executive board members Leigh Anne Siddle, president, Monica Haddad, chair for intramural competitions, and Alex Landback, chair for public relations. For the first time, UF will will compete in January at the Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship, where the top 16 teams in the nation are invited to compete.

In February, the Florida Supreme Court will judge the 28th Annual Raymer F. Maguire Appellate Advocacy Competition, sponsored by Holland & Knight, LLP.

The Maguire Competition features six talented members of the team who will compete in the American Bar Association’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition in March. During the Spring Semester, the Florida Moot Court Team invites 1Ls to attend information sessions and tabling, and encourages everyone to learn more about the team.

For more information about 1L tryouts, contact Kelsey Veitengruber or Joseph Somake.

“We are honored to be recognized for our achievements,” said Florida Moot Court President Leigh Anne Siddle (3L). “Our ranking is a reflection of a talented program that is developing as a competitive force on the national level.”

During its 2010-2011 competitions, members of the Florida Moot Court team won three regional championships, including the regional title at the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition, a Best Brief award at the Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition, three Best Oral Advocate awards at the ABA National Competition, the National Tax Competition, and the Navy JAG Competition, and competed on UF’s team that won the national championship at the National Tax Competition.

The 32 ranking points earned by the Florida Moot Court team, when combined with the 10 points earned by UF Law’s team for the National Tax Competition, resulted in the University of Florida Levin College of Law being ranked 11th among all U.S. law schools and third among the public law schools in the most recent Blakely Advocacy Institute Rankings of moot court programs.

The top 16 schools in the ranking will compete in the Third Annual Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship in Houston. This is the first time that any University of Florida moot court team has been invited to send a three-person team to the competition.

“The Florida Moot Court team is honored to be invited to the national championship in Houston,” Siddle said. “The Houston Team is eager to live up to the high standards set last year, and they are confident they will bring a national championship to the Levin College of Law.”

The team has already begun preparing for the January 2012 National Championship. Florida Moot Court’s Houston Team is comprised of Celia Thacker (3L), Monica Haddad (3L) and Alex Landback (3L). This year’s competition problem deals with the interpretation of environmental and criminal statutes in the context of a negligent chemical spill and subsequent witness tampering.

Thacker will write the appellate brief to be submitted in December. Meanwhile, Haddad, winner of Best Oralist at the 25th Annual Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe Moot Court Final Four Competition in September 2010, and Landback, winner of Best Oral Advocate at the Robert Orseck Memorial Moot Court Competition during the Florida Bar Convention in June 2011, will be the team’s oral advocates.

The Florida Moot Court team is preparing for 10 regional and national competitions across the country this year, coordinating its members into two to three member teams to send to each competition. Competing members are tasked with preparing their appellate brief and arguing both sides of the case.

“This requires a thorough knowledge of the facts and underlying law as well as a firm grasp on the strengths and weaknesses of the case,” Siddle said.

Five of the Florida Moot Court team’s newest members competed in front of distinguished state and federal judges at the 26th Annual Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe Moot Court Final Four Competition on Sept. 9. Danielle Grundt (2L), Amy Podolsky (2L), Kelsey Veitengruber (2L), and Brandon White (2L) argued in front of the panel of judges with Dylan Shea (2L) serving as alternate. White and Podolsky were selected as Best Team and Veitengruber won Best Oralist. Podolsky also won Best Overall and Best Brief as part of the intramural competition.

This year’s panel of judges included former Judge Monterey “Buddy” Campbell from the Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal, Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington of the United States Middle District of Florida, Judge James S. Moody of the United States Middle District of Florida, and Judge Paul C. Huck of the United States Southern District of Florida.

“The Florida Moot Court Team is proud of the Final Four competitors as well as the 13 other new members,” Siddle said. “The team is excited about the upcoming competition year.”

This annual event is held in conjunction with The Florida Bar convention at the Gaylord Resort in Orlando, and features teams from each law school from the state of Florida. Furthermore, the competitors met many Levin College of Law alumni from across the state. The competition focused on two issues: the 4th Amendment implications of a warrantless GPS tracking device, and a juror’s non-disclosure during voir dire. Siddle and Wasserstrom split the juror portion, while Landback argued the GPS issue for both respondent and petitioner. The team would like to thank their families and teammates that came out to watch the oral arguments. In particular, the team would like to thank the Honorable Edward C. LaRose (2nd District Court of Appeal in Lakeland) for his support during the preliminary rounds.

UF Law students Andrew Labbe, Leigh Anne Siddle, Monica Haddad and Jordan Peterson (supported by alternate Daniel Lazaro) argued before a panel of federal and state judges Sept. 10 in the 25th Annual Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe Moot Court Final Four Competition. The bench featured a distinguished panel of state and federal judges: The Honorable Jacqueline R. Griffin, Fifth District Court of Appeal; The Honorable Robert Hinkle, Northern District of Florida; The Honorable William Terrell Hodges, Middle District of Florida; The Honorable Paul C. Huck, Southern District of Florida; and The Honorable Steven D. Merryday, Middle District of Florida.

The oralists argued a civil rights case involving Fourth Amendment issues concerning an unlawful search and seizure of files on a student’s personal laptop, the student’s removal from the school newspaper staff and censorship of her articles in violation of her First Amendment right to free speech before the judicial panel and a standing-room-only audience in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center.

The students were not the only ones exited about the competition. “I like to judge these events because the quality and enthusiasm of the students blows me away,” Judge Jacqueline Griffin said. “I find it invigorating.”

While all competitors made outstanding and persuasive arguments, the Respondents, Monica Haddad and Jordan Peterson, prevailed, winning the Best Team award. Jordan Peterson won Best Overall, Monica Haddad won Best Oralist, and Aaron Wasserstrom won Best Brief.

To see the competitors’ biographies, read last week’s story.

Inn of Court accepting applications
The James C. Adkins, Jr. American Inn of Court, which meets in Gainesville, is accepting student applications for participation in the esteemed American Inns of Court, a national legal mentoring organization that teams law students (pupils) with new lawyers (associates), seasoned practitioners (barristers), judges, and senior lawyers (Masters of the Bench). The Inn meets six to eight times per year. Selected students participate in regular meetings, at no cost to student members. Meetings include a mixer, dinner, and an educational program. All group members of the Inn prepare and present programs that address issues, techniques, problems, and ethics of the practice of law. Student membership is an excellent opportunity to work with, and observe, outstanding members of the legal profession, while learning trial techniques and other essential legal skills. Applications are available in the Legal Research & Writing office. Deadline is Sept. 17. For more information, please contact Senior Legal Skills Professor Diane Tomlinson at tomlinso@law.ufl.edu.

Environmental Moot Court tryouts application deadline Sept. 10
Interested in environmental law? Want to hone your brief-writing and appellate advocacy skills? Students in their second and third years can try out for the competition team that will represent UF at the National Environmental Moot Court Competition in February 2011 in White Plains, New York.  Second-year students who apply will also be considered for the coach position. The coach provides logistical support to this year’s competition team and attends the National Environmental Moot Court Competition in February 2011 in a support role. The coach is automatically a member of the 2011-2012 competition team. The application process includes a written submission (resumé, unofficial (ISIS) transcript, and argument section of your brief from Appellate Advocacy) and an oral argument tryout. You should remove your name and contact information from the resumé, transcript, and writing sample and identify your application with the entrant number you will be assigned when you submit your material. Written submissions can be delivered in hard copy to HOL 319 or sent by e-mail to hinson@law.ufl.edu. Early application is encouraged. Applicants are asked to sign up for an oral argument time slot at the time of submitting their written materials. Written applications are due Friday, Sept. 10, by 4 p.m. Oral argument tryouts will be scheduled for the week of Sept. 13. For more information, contact Lena Hinson hinson@law.ufl.edu or 352-273-0777.

Visiting professor gives speech for Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce
Visiting Prof. Attila Andrade gave a speech for the Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce in Miami in mid-August concerning the Brazilian great economic prosperity and its impact on legal change in his native country. Several professionals and entrepreneurs attended the event. Prof. Andrade is currently teaching two courses during this fall at UF Law, the traditional “Doing Business in Latin America” and his new course, “Practical International Business Transaction,” which has raised an extraordinary interest from the UF Law academic community.

Florida Moot Court Team thanks participants in Intramural Competition, welcomes new members
The Florida Moot Court Team would like to thank everyone who participated in the Intramural Competition this year. It would additionally like to congratulate and welcome its newest members:
The Final Four: Monica Haddad, Andrew Labbe, Jordan Peterson, Leigh Siddle, Daniel Lazaro (Alternate)
General Members: Amanda Brooks, Michael Bruno, Elizabeth Bryan, Amanda Finley, Jesse Isom, Alexander Landback, Dominique McPherson, Brittany O’Neil, Jennifer Sharp, Celia Thacker, Kimberly Tolland, Aaron Wasserstrom, Jennie Zilner.