Dean’s Cup Competition
The Dean’s Cup Competition is an appellate advocacy competition at the LSU Law Center in which students compete individually for the right to claim the Dean’s Cup. The competition simulates oral argument before the United States Supreme Court in a series of three real, currently-pending United States Supreme Court cases. Competitors will be provided the parties’ briefs, the decision of the court below, and other relevant documents, and will compete in oral arguments through a series of individual elimination brackets. Competitors are not required to submit written briefs.
The Dean’s Cup Competition is open to members of the second and third-year classes and LLM candidates.
2024 Dean’s Cup Competition:
2024 Competition Materials:
- 2024 Dean’s Cup Rules and Procedures
- Dean’s Cup Competitor Registration Form (Registration Closes Wednesday, March 6 at 11:59 pm)
Competition Dates:
- Prelim Round A: Wednesday March 13 (Case #1)
- Prelim Round B: Monday March 18 (Case #1)
- Quarterfinal Round: Mon. March 25 (Case #2)
- Semifinal Round: Wed. March 27 (Case #2)
- Final Round: Mon. April 1 (Case #3)
2024 Dean’s Cup Case Files:
CASE #1 (PRELIMINARY ROUNDS): Federal Bureau of Investigation v. Fikre, No. 22-1178
- Questions Presented
- Brief on the Merits for Petitioner
- Brief on the Merits for Respondent
- Reply Brief on the Merits for Petitioner
- Complete Supreme Court Docket (for amicus briefs, if desired)
CASE #2 (QUARTER AND SEMIFINAL ROUNDS): Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce, No. 22-1219
- Questions Presented (NOTE: The Supreme Court limited oral arguments and briefing to the first question presented; competitors shall do the same.)
- Brief on the Merits for Petitioner
- Brief on the Merits for Respondent
- Reply Brief on the Merits for Petitioner
- Complete Supreme Court Docket (for amicus briefs, if desired) (NOTE: While this case was consolidated with Loper for oral argument, Dean’s Cup teams are expressly limited only to the filings in Relentless v. Dept. of Commerce for their oral arguments.)
CASE #3 (FINAL ROUND): NetChoice, LLC v. Paxton, No. 22-555
- Questions Presented
- Brief on the Merits for Petitioner
- Brief on the Merits for Respondent
- Reply Brief on the Merits for Petitioner
- Complete Supreme Court Docket (for amicus briefs, if desired) (NOTE: while this case was consolidated with Moody v. Netchoice, teams may only utilize the briefs contained within the docket for No. 22-555 in preparing for this argument.)
Prior Dean’s Cup Winners:
- 2023: McKenzie Connelly
- 2022: Scott Wheat, Jr.
- 2021: David Judd
- 2020: Juan Moreno
- 2019: J. William VanDehei
- 2018: Ahmed Soussi
- 2017: Alaina Richard
- 2016: Andrew Hairston
- 2015: J. Benjamin Aguiñaga
- 2014: Danielle Borel
- 2013: Christopher Cummings
- 2012: C. Jacob Gower