Donovan Stone ’20 withstood a round of tough grilling by a three-judge panel to prevail in the 2020 Dean’s Cup, winning the final round of Duke Law’s premier advocacy competition.

Stone and Zeke Starr ’20 briefed and argued a Supreme Court appeal of Manning v. Caldwell, a 2019 case in which a Fourth Circuit court invalidated a Virginia statute that permits the civil interdiction of one who has “shown himself to be a habitual drunkard,” which subjects the individual to criminal statutes restricting the possession and consumption of alcohol.

Daniel Klaeren ’22 prevailed in the final round of the 2019 Jessup Cup international law moot court competition on Sept. 24. Klaeren squared off against Allyson Veile ’21, arguing a closed-universe international law problem before final round judges Professors Curtis Bradley, Laurence Helfer, and Jayne Huckerby.

Sponsored by the Moot Court Board.

Zeke Starr '21 and Alexandra "Xan"Belzley ’21, argued Ass’n of N.J. Rife & Pistol Clubs v. Attorney General, N.J., a case involving a state restriction on possession of high-capacity ammunition magazines. Judge James E. Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Judge J. Michelle Childs of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, and Justice David E. Nahmias of the Georgia Supreme Court presided over the arguments.

The final round of the 2018 Jessup Cup moot court competition. Jessup Cup finalists Eric Roytman and Brent McKnight argued the case concerning the Egart and the Ibra before a mock International Court of Justice. The finalists were judged by a faculty panel including Professors Curtis Bradley, Jayne Huckerby, and Ralf Michaels."

Recorded on September 24, 2018.

Sponsored by the Moot Court Board

The final round of this year's Dean's Cup, Duke's premier oral advocacy competition. Zack Ezor and Meredith Compton (for Petitioner) and Zach Ferguson and Will Sowers (for Respondent) argue Int'l Union of Operating Eng'rs Local 139 v. Schimel.

The Honorable Pamela Harris, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Amul Roger Thapar, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and Srikanth Srinivasan, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit presided.

Sponsored by the Duke Law Moot Court Board.

Professors, practitioners, and competitors discuss the Fourth Circuit case of United States v. Robinson from the Hardt Cup Moot Court Tournament this year. The case involves wide-ranging and overlapping issues regarding high-crime areas and relationships with police, gun rights, and 4th amendment protections against unreasonable search-and-seizure.

Panelists: Professors Lisa K. Griffin and Guy-Uriel Charles, as well as First Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of North Carolina, G. Alan DuBois.

Sponsored by the Moot Court Board.

The final round of the 2017 Hardt Cup Tournament for first-year students. The panel of judges includes the Honorable Stephanie Seymour of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, the Honorable Lawrence J. Vilardo of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York , and the Honorable Terrence W. Boyle of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The finalists, arguing U.S. v. Shaquille Robinson, were Meredith Compton and Kyle Nodes.

Sponsored by the Moot Court Board.

Amelia DeGory '17 and Ethan Wright '18 and second-year students Hope Staneski and Leah Brenner argue Burwell v. CNS International Ministries, Inc. in the final round of the 2017 Duke Law Dean's Cup moot court competition.

The Honorable José A. Cabranes (Second Circuit), the Honorable Jeffrey Sutton (Sixth Circuit), and the Honorable Algenon L. Marbley (Southern District of Ohio) preside.

Sponsored by the Duke Law Moot Court Board.

The final round of the 2016 Hardt Cup Moot Court Tournament. Finalists Margaret Anderson '18 and Taylor West '18, argue before Federal Circuit Judge Todd M. Hughes '92 (United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit), Chief Judge Frank D. Whitney (United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina) and Judge Robin L. Rosenberg '89 (United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida). The finalists argue the case Bell v. Itawamba County School Board, a Fifth Circuit case the First Amendment rights of public school students.

The Duke Law Moot Court Board presents the final round of the 2016 Dean's Cup, Duke's premier oral advocacy competition. The Honorable Richard C. Tallman, Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the Honorable Jane Kelly, Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and the Honorable Kimberly J. Mueller, Eastern District of California presided.

Second-year students Meredith Simons and Chase Harrington (for petitioner) and Ace Factor and Svein Hoexter (for respondent) argued Texas v. United States in Dean's Cup final round.

The final round of the 2015 Hardt Cup Tournament. Finalists Jordan Glassberg '17 and Will Hawkins '17, argue before Circuit Judge Paul V. Niemeyer (United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit), Chief Judge James C. Dever III '87 (United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina) and Circuit Judge Allyson K. Duncan '75 (United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit). Sponsored by the Moot Court Board.

The final round of the 2015 Dean's Cup, Duke's premier oral advocacy competition. Finalists Annie Showalter L'16, Logan Mohs L'15, Zharna Shah L'15 and Chantalle Carles L'16 argue a Second Amendment case before a three-judge panel. The Honorable Mark Martin, Chief Justice, North Carolina Supreme Court, The Honorable R. Guy Cole, Jr., Chief Judge, US Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit and The Honorable Robert Lewis Hinkle, Northern District of Florida preside. Sponsored by the Dean's Office and the Moot Court Board.

The Duke Law Moot Court Board invites you to the final round of this year's Dean's Cup, Duke's premier oral advocacy competition. The problem involves a constitutional challenge by indigent plaintiffs to Tennessee's felon re-enfranchisement statute, which requires felons to pay all child support and restitution obligations before they can regain their right to vote. The student finalists are second-year students Shifali Baliga and Nina Gupta with Casteel Scherger '14 and Oscar Shine '13. This year's esteemed panel of judges are Hon. Marjorie Rendell (3d Cir.), Hon.

Phil Rubin '11 and Catherine Lawson '12 will argue First Amendment case against 2Ls Sarah Boyce and James Harlow.

Recorded on February 21, 2011.

Conference title: Dean's Cup Moot Court Competition 2011.

Appearing: Phil Rubin '11, Catherine Lawson '12, Sarah Boyce and James Harlow, participants ; Brett Kavanaugh (D.C. Circuit), Reena Raggi (2nd Circuit), and Denis Shedd (4th Circuit), judges.

Mock oral arguments before a panel of three judges. The questions before the judges involves a complex case involving the application of the First Amendment to commercial speech.

Recorded on February 11, 2010.

Conference title: Dean's Cup Moot Court Competition 2010.

Appearing: Kip Nelson '10, Steve Rawson '10, Rocio Perez '11, Ben Baucom '11, participants ; Judge Christine M. Durham (Utah Supreme Court), Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl (California Superior Court), Ernest Young (Duke's Alston & Bird Professor of Law), judges.

The participants present oral arguments on Padilla v. Commenwealth of Kentucky a case that deals with whether or not attorneys must advice non-citizen clients about deportation risks in judicial proceedings. James Pearce '11 and Leah Shen '11 argue before Judge David Ebel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Judge Patricia Timmons-Goodson of the North Carolina Supreme Court, and Judge Paul L. Friedman of the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Sponsored by the Moot Court Board.

Recorded on April 06, 2009.

The Moot Court Board proudly presents the final round for the 2007 Hardt Cup Tournament. Timothy McGinn '09 and James McDonald '09 argue Woodruff v. Ochconsin, a case involving the convicition of a fictional client "Craig Woodruff", whose arrest for methamphetamine transport and possesion resulted from an unlawful traffic stop. Their arguments were heard before a panel consisting of Judge James C. Dever III '87 of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Senior Judge Stephanie K. Seymour of the U.S.

Two talented attorneys from the Dallas law firm of Thompson & Knight offer oral advocacy tips to help all Hardt Cup competitors to improve their moot court skills.

Recorded on March 27, 2006.

Panel titled: Thompson & Knight Advanced Oral Advocacy Session.

Appearing: Nicole Rittenhouse (Thompson & Knight) and David Schute (Thompson & Knight) panelists.

A panel of three appellate judges, Judge Diarmuid O'Scannlain of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit headed the panel, which included Judge James A. Wynn, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Judge Lee H. Rosenthal of U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, decides which team has the more persuasive argument, based on an appeal of the Ninth Circuit's en banc opinion in Catholic League for Religious & Civil Rights v. City & County of San Francisco.

Casey Byrne ’26 won the championship round of the 60th annual Hardt Cup Tournament held on April 11, 2024.

Byrne and co-finalist William Allred ’26 argued a fictional appeal of a Ninth Circuit ruling in Gay v. Parsons before a Supreme Court panel of Sarah K. Campbell JD/MPP ‘09, a justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court; Robin Rosenberg JD/MA ‘89, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida; and Mary Scriven T ‘84, U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida. Scriven acted as Chief Justice.

Michael Tigar, listed among the best oral advocates in American history, will present his 12 Ideas on Appellate Advocacy. A seasoned appellate advocate with 100's of representative experiences, Mr. Tigar's advice and reflections are invaluable to anyone interested in oral advocacy. Hosted by the Moot Court Board.