National First Amendment Moot Court Competition

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 case based on a current First Amendment issue 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. Judges include jurists from federal and state courts.

2012 competition information

Notes
Jan. 6, 2012: Typographical error in competition problem. There is an error on page 5 of the United States Court of Appeals for the 13th Circuit decision. Under Section A., Government Speech, the sentence should read: “Appellees argue we should not address the Establishment Clause question because the monument is private speech.”

When
The Moot Court Competition is Thursday and Friday, Feb. 16-17, 2012.

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES:

Oct. 7, 2011: Deadline for postmarked Intent-to-Compete forms, $500 entry fee, Statement of Interest and Competitors’ résumés (if available).
Oct. 28: Teams are notified regarding competition status. Distribution of Problem and Rules to all registered teams.
Jan. 15, 2012: Deadline to reserve discounted rooms at Embassy Suites.
Jan. 18: Briefs and Team Information Sheet due.
Jan. 19: Competitors’ briefs will be posted on the competition Web site.
Feb. 1: Team Travel Information Form must be postmarked no later than this date.
Thursday and Friday, Feb. 16-17, 2012: Dates of the 2012 National First Amendment Moot Court Competition.

Who
The competition is open to 36 two-member teams (2nd- and 3rd-year students only) from fully 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 résumés (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. 7, 2011. Entrants will be notified by e-mail on Oct. 28 regarding their competition status. Fees will be refunded to teams not chosen for the competition.

Cost
$500.

What
The competition consists of four preliminary rounds, quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship round. Awards will be given to the winning teams’ schools: winner, runner-up, semifinalists, best brief and best oralist.

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 before Jan. 15, 2012. 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.

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

The problem
This year’s problem deals with the constitutionality of religious displays on public property. Competitors will be examining the government-speech and establishment-clause doctrines.

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. (See 2004 best brief.)

Judging
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.

Licensing of competition problems
The copyright for the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition problem is the property of the Vanderbilt University Law School Moot Court Board. Any unauthorized use of a competition hypothetical is prohibited by law. For licensing of the competition problems, please contact the Vanderbilt Moot Court Board or Tiffany Villager at mootcourt@fac.org. See this page for more information.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
“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.”

· Invitation to compete

· Intent-to-compete form

· Acceptance letter — TBA Oct. 28

· Competition problem — TBA Oct. 28

· Official rules — TBA

· Team information form — TBA Oct. 28

· Team travel form — TBA Oct. 28

· Competition schedule — TBA Oct. 28

· Competitor briefs — TBA Jan. 19

· Team pairings — TBA Jan. 19

· Oral argument scoring guidelines

· Oral argument scoring sheet

 

About The First Amendment Center

We support the First Amendment and build understanding of its core freedoms through education, information and entertainment.

The center serves as a forum for the study and exploration of free-expression issues, including freedom of speech, of the press and of religion, and the rights to assemble and to petition the government.

Founded by John Seigenthaler, the First Amendment Center is an operating program of the Freedom Forum and is associated with the Newseum and the Diversity Institute. The center has offices in the John Seigenthaler Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

The center’s programs, including the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum, provide education and information to the public and groups including First Amendment scholars and experts, educators, government policy makers, legal experts and students. The center is nonpartisan and does not lobby, litigate or provide legal advice. See First Amendment Center Fact Sheet and FAQs. See internships info.

The center’s website, www.firstamendmentcenter.org, is one of the most authoritative sources of news, information and commentary in the nation on First Amendment issues. It features daily updates on news about First Amendment-related developments, as well as detailed reports about U.S. Supreme Court cases involving the First Amendment, and commentary, analysis and special reports on free expression, press freedom and religious-liberty issues. Support the work of the First Amendment Center.

1 For All

1 for All is a national nonpartisan program designed to build understanding and support for First Amendment freedoms. 1 for All provides teaching materials to the nation’s schools, supports educational events on America’s campuses and reminds the public that the First Amendment serves everyone, regardless of faith, race, gender or political leanings. It is truly one amendment for all. Visit 1 for All at http://1forall.us/

Help tomorrow’s citizens find their voice: Teach the First Amendment

The most basic liberties guaranteed to Americans – embodied in the 45 words of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution – assure Americans a government that is responsible to its citizens and responsive to their wishes.

These 45 words are as alive and important today as they were more than 200 years ago. These liberties are neither liberal nor conservative, Democratic nor Republican – they are the basis for our representative democratic form of government.

We know from studies beginning in 1997 by the nonpartisan First Amendment Center, and from studies commissioned by the Knight Foundation and others, that few adult Americans or high school students can name the individual five freedoms that make up the First Amendment.

The lesson plans – drawn from materials prepared by the Newseum and the First Amendment Center – will draw young people into an exploration of how their freedoms began and how they operate in today’s world. Students will discuss just how far individual rights extend, examining rights in the school environment and public places. The lessons may be used in history and government, civics, language arts and journalism, art and debate classes. They may be used in sections or in their entirety. Many of these lesson plans indicate an overall goal, offer suggestions on how to teach the lesson and list additional resources and enrichment activities.

See more about lesson plans.

First Amendment Moot Court Competition

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 in February, 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.

The 22nd Annual National First Amendment Moot Court Competition is Feb. 16-17, 2012. See registration information and details about the competition.

FIRST AMENDMENT CENTER ARCHIVES

State of the First Amendment survey reports

The State of the First Amendment surveys, commissioned since 1997 by the First Amendment Center and Newseum, are a regular check on how Americans view their first freedoms of speech, press, assembly, religion and petition.

The periodic surveys examine public attitudes toward freedom of speech, press, religion and the rights of assembly and petition; and sample public opinion on contemporary issues involving those freedoms. See the reports.