Dear American Bar Association Member:
The ABA Law Student Division invites you to participate as an oral argument judge for the 2012-13 New York Regional National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC). This moot court competition takes place March 7-9, 2013 at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse.
The NAAC emphasizes the development of oral advocacy skills through a realistic appellate advocacy experience. Competitors participate in a hypothetical appeal to the United States Supreme Court. The competition involves writing a 35-page brief as either respondent or petitioner and then arguing the case in front of the mock court. (Other members of the bench and bar will serve as brief judges—we are asking you to serve only as an oral argument judge.)
This year's problem involves two questions. The first is whether an officer's actions were beyond her "discretion" to the point that they would not be entitled to qualified immunity analysis in a § 1983 case. The second examines the extent to which a grand jury indictment breaks the causal connection between that officer's allegedly unconstitutional actions and the plaintiff's subsequent seizure.
As a judge, you will have the opportunity to interact with the finest advocates that the nation's law schools have to offer. With 224 teams from 130 ABA-approved law schools competing at the regional level, the NAAC is one of the largest moot court competitions in the country. Teams from law schools in 15 states are preparing to compete in the New York Regional.
The rounds take place in the late afternoon on Thursday and Friday, March 7-8 and all day on Saturday, March 9.
Round 1: Thursday, March 7 (5:00 pm to 9:15 pm)
Round 2: Friday, March 8 (5:00 pm to 9:15 pm)
Round 3: Saturday, March 9 (8:30 am to 12:45 pm)
Round 4: Saturday, March 9 (1:00 pm to 3:30 pm)
Round 5: Saturday, March 9 (3:30 pm to 6:00 pm)
If you are willing to serve as a judge, please enter your contact information and round selection on the form located at
https://abanet.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2lwGfhTHg4WqYu1.
We need approximately 200 judges for the regional competition. If you have any colleagues who may be interested in participating as a volunteer judge, please forward this message to them. Judging assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Within 10 business days after receipt of your form, we will send an email confirming judging assignments. Beginning in late January, we will provide a bench memorandum, the problem (record), and instructions on judging.
Reviewing these materials is the only preparation required of competition judges.
CLE CREDIT INFORMATION
The ABA Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition will apply for CLE credit in the state of New York.
Please contact me at 312.988.5621 or at naac@americanbar.org if you have any questions.
The development of oral and written advocacy skills is very important in the context of legal practice. We sincerely hope you will be able to participate in this great learning experience for law students by serving as a judge.
Thank you for considering this invitation.
Sincerely,
Peggy Pissarreck
Associate Director, Law Student Division
American Bar Association
321 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
T: 312.988.5621
M: 312.375.3227
F: 312.988.6033
peggy.pissarreck@americanbar.org
http://www.americanbar.org/lawstudent