The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution — the cornerstone of American democracy — is the focus of the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition. Recognized as one of the nation's finest constitutional law competitions, this annual event features a current First Amendment controversy.

During the two-day competition, each team will participate in a minimum of four rounds, arguing a hypothetical based on a current First Amendment controversy before panels of accomplished jurists, legal scholars and attorneys.

Past participants in the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition have represented law schools nationwide, from Brooklyn Law School to Duke University to Arizona State to Harvard.

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2007 Competition Information

Acceptance letter	Oral argument scoring guidelines	Oral argument scoring sheet	Official rules
Team information form	Team travel form	Competition problem	Invitation to compete
Intent-to-Compete Form	Competition schedule

When

The Moot Court Competition is Thursday and Friday, Feb. 22-23, 2007.

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES:

Jan. 21, 2007: Deadline to reserve discounted rooms at Embassy Suites.

Jan. 22: Briefs and Team Information Sheet due.

Jan. 23: Competitors e-mailed a PDF version of their team opponents' briefs.

Feb. 2: Team Travel Information Form must be postmarked no later than this date.

Thursday and Friday, Feb. 22-23, 2007: Dates of the 2007 National First Amendment Moot Court Competition.

Who

The competition is open to 32 two-member teams (2nd- and 3rd-year students only) from ABA-accredited law schools. If the competition is oversubscribed, admission will be based on the quality of the team and the school's commitment to the competition. To assist in making these determinations, please submit team-member resumes (if available) and any other information (e.g., team-selection process) that would suggest a serious commitment to a high level of performance in the competition. All application materials must be submitted by Oct. 13, 2006. Entrants will be notified by e-mail on Nov. 3 regarding their competition status. Fees will be refunded to teams not chosen for the competition.

Cost

$250.

What

The competition consists of four preliminary rounds, quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship round. Winning teams will be awarded $5,000.

Where

The competition will take place on Vanderbilt University's campus and at the First Amendment Center, also on the campus.

Travel & Accommodations

The National First Amendment Moot Court Competition has procured a block of rooms for all competitors at the Embassy Suites, within walking distance of the Vanderbilt campus.

For more information, call Embassy Suites at 615/320-8899 or use this reservation link before Jan. 21, 2007. After that date, all reservation requests will be accepted on a space- and rate-available basis. Competitors must clearly identify that they are a part of the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition to receive a discounted room rate.

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Questions

If you have further questions, contact the Vanderbilt Moot Court Board at 615/727-1345 or by e-mail: mootcourt@fac.org.

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The Problem

This year’s problem examines a fundamental First Amendment principle — the public’s right to receive information and ideas — through the prism of a state regulation on attorney advertising. Although attorney advertising necessarily focuses attention on the legal profession, the First Amendment implications affect the public at large. The problem raises several interesting questions for the student advocates: Is the attorney advertisement a form of fully protected political speech or a form of commercial speech, which assumes a “subordinate” rank in the scale of First Amendment values? If the speech is commercial, then the advocates must address whether the speech is false or misleading — a subject near and dear to the Federal Trade Commission that goes beyond the realm of attorney advertising. Finally, the practitioners must address the malleable and oft-criticized test used by the U.S. Supreme Court to examine the constitutionality of regulations on commercial speech — the so-called Central Hudson test.

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History

Past participants in the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition have represented law schools nationwide, from Brooklyn Law School to Duke University to Arizona State to Harvard.

Panels of state and federal judges will hear semifinal and final-round arguments, while more than 200 attorneys, judges and law professors will serve as early-round judges. Below are a few of the judges from past years and their comments on the competition and competitors.

"In the Supreme Court we see advocates all the time looking at the clock, perhaps looking for some relief. Your [the competitors] performances are a hopeful sign for future advocacy." The Hon. Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Supreme Court Justice

"I have sat on moot courts of all kinds across the country, and the First Amendment Center/Vanderbilt competition is consistently the most interesting and professionally organized of all." The Hon. Gilbert S. Merritt Circuit Judge, 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

"There are many moot court competitions, but this one makes a unique contribution to the study of law and to the public consciousness of what is important about law. The First Amendment is and should be first. It is the cornerstone of all our liberties and, together with the Legislative Article, the most important part of the Constitution. I applaud the efforts of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University in putting together this competition. It has been a pleasure to participate in it." The Hon. Richard S. Arnold Circuit Judge, 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (Judge Arnold died on Sept. 23, 2004.)

"In this First Amendment Moot Court Competition the issues are intellectually stimulating and the students demonstrate exceptional advocacy skills. The competition provides an excellent source of debate and discussion of the critical importance of the First Amendment to our society." The Hon. William J. Haynes, Jr. District Judge, U.S. Middle District of Tennessee

"Each year, students from a growing number of schools are fortunate to participate in one of the country's premiere competitions. And the judges are equally fortunate-the quality of the advocacy and the degree of intellectual stimulation are simply first rate." The Hon. Martha Craig Daughtrey Circuit Judge, 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
— First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.