Inaugural Justice Amy Coney Barrett Moot Court Tournament at Notre Dame Law School culminates in strong competition and awards for top teams

The inaugural Justice Amy Coney Barrett Moot Court Tournament at Notre Dame Law School, held on November 8, was a resounding success for both the student participants and the event itself. The tournament, marking the Law School's first competitive Moot Court event, provided second- and third-year law students with an opportunity to showcase their skills in oral advocacy and brief writing.

The event culminated in a highly competitive final round, highlighting the talents of two standout teams: Gabriel Powell and Thomas MacPhee and Marin Larkin and Kathleen Casey, all second-year law students. The teams delivered impressive performances, demonstrating exceptional legal reasoning, advocacy, and teamwork.

Powell and MacPhee were awarded first place among the oral advocates for their compelling arguments and deep understanding of the case. In addition, MacPhee received the Best Oralist Award for his outstanding individual performance in the final round.

Larkin and Casey, who also excelled in the final round, took second place for their exceptional advocacy and persuasive arguments.

Third-year student Brianna Ivy was recognized with the Best Brief Award for her outstanding written work.

The tournament, named in honor of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a Notre Dame Law School alumna and former long-time Notre Dame faculty member, began in September with 32 student oralists and seven submitted briefs.

Dean G. Marcus Cole said, "This tournament honors Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s legacy of legal excellence and celebrates the extraordinary talent of our students. We are all incredibly proud of their dedication and the seriousness with which they approached this competition. Their performances demonstrate the high level of excellence that defines Notre Dame Law School. I couldn’t be prouder of what our teams accomplished during our first competitive tournament."

This year’s competition centered around a fictional appellate case, United States v. Kozlov, which raised significant constitutional questions about the scope of border searches under the Fourth Amendment. The case examined the legality of forensic searches of cellphones under the border-search exception, with the finalists debating the implications for digital privacy at the border.

The final round was judged by a distinguished panel of judges, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, along with Judge Elizabeth Branch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and Judge Gerald Pappert, a Notre Dame Law School alumnus, who serves on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Their involvement highlighted the importance of the event and the high standards set for the students’ during the competition.

The judges expressed their admiration for the students’ performances. Justice Kavanaugh praised the competitors, stating that these students showed the “quality of advocacy that we would welcome in our courts.” The panel commended the teams, noting that their presentations reflected the dedication and hard work necessary for success in the legal profession.

The success of the inaugural Justice Amy Coney Barrett Moot Court Tournament sets a high bar for future competitions at Notre Dame Law School. The tournament has proven to be an outstanding opportunity for students to engage in high-level appellate advocacy, and the Law School community looks forward to the continued success of this event for years to come.

The Advocates

Petitioners:

• Marin Larkin: Will be a summer associate at Locke Lord in Boston. Marin is a graduate of Georgetown University.

• Kathleen Casey: Will be a summer associate at Jones Day in Boston. After graduation she will clerk for Judge Timothy Tymkovich of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Kathleen is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross.

"It was such an honor to argue in front of Justice Kavanaugh, Judge Branch, and Judge Pappert. The opportunity to argue in front of them and respond to such thought-provoking questions was an incredibly enriching experience. We are very grateful to Dean Cole, Professor Carney, Professor Nicole Garnett, and the greater Notre Dame community for all of their work in providing this opportunity and making it such a wonderful experience," said Larkin and Casey.

Respondents:

• Gabriel Powell: Will be a summer associate for Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in Washington, D.C. After graduation, he will clerk for Judge William Pryor of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and then for Judge Amul Thapar of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Gabriel is a graduate of Hillsdale College.

“It was an honor to argue in the final round of the Inaugural Amy Coney Barrett Moot Court Tournament. The time spent preparing throughout the semester was well worth the opportunity to argue before three eminent federal judges. One aspect I found particularly interesting in the argument was the differing approaches taken by judges at different levels of the judiciary to the issue presented. It was a valuable experience that I will not soon forget," said Gabriel Powell.

• Tom MacPhee: Will be a summer associate for Jones Day in Dallas. After graduation, he will clerk for Judge Joan Larson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Tom is a graduate of Hillsdale College.

“Speaking in front of an auditorium full of peers is daunting enough, but it’s even scarier when Justice Kavanaugh asks you yet another clever question. But what an honor—to speak before such a distinguished panel, to compete against such talented classmates, and to work alongside my partner, one of the smartest, kindest, and most honorable men I know,” said MacPhee. “I’m truly grateful. Grateful for my parents, who’ve worked so hard to give me the chance to attend this law school; for my professors, who’ve taught me how to read, think, and speak about the law; for Notre Dame Law School, for providing the resources and events that help us honor God in our legal careers.”