We are pleased to announce the third annual Constance Baker Motley National Moot Court Competition in Constitutional Law. In recognition of the upcoming general elections and the fact that in 38 states judicial candidates must stand for election, the 2008 Moot Court legal problem involves timely and open questions related to state elections and their role in helping ensure a fair and independent judiciary.
Two issues will be briefed and argued:

• Whether a state rule precluding judicial candidates from personally soliciting campaign contributions is inconsistent with the First Amendment;

and

• Whether a state rule restricting the partisan political activities of candidates for judicial office violates the First Amendment.

The official 2008 Problem, Rules, and other information about the competition may be accessed by clicking on the links directly above.
The competition consists of two phases: briefings and oral arguments. Briefs will be due from all competitors on January 18, 2008. Oral arguments will consist of two preliminary regional competition rounds, at the University of Colorado Law School at Boulder (March 15-16) and Georgetown University Law Center (March 29-30). Each team will argue both on and off brief.

At each regional competition, teams of two will argue a minimum of three preliminary rounds on Saturday, and eight teams will advance to the quarterfinal level of elimination rounds on Sunday. From that, four teams will advance to a regional competition final round. The winning team from each regional competition will compete in the Constance Baker Motley National Moot Court Competition in Constitutional Law Final Round in June 2008 at the ACS National Convention in Washington, D.C. The winning team selected in the Final Round will receive a $3,000 cash prize, and the runner-up team will receive a $2,000 cash prize. Registration will open on Friday, October 26, 2007, and close on Friday, November 16, 2007.

Timeline

• October 24, 2007: Official Problem Released

• October 26, 2007: Registration Opens

• November 16, 2007: Registration Closes

• January 18, 2008: Briefs Due

• March 15-16, 2008: University of Colorado Law School at Boulder Regional Competition Rounds

• March 29-30, 2008: Georgetown University Law Center Regional Competition Rounds

• June 2008: Final Round at the ACS National Convention

We invite you to learn more about the competition, and to join us for what promises to be an exciting competition!

ACS wishes to thank Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, the National Sponsor of the competition.