Dean’s Cup Competition
The Dean’s Cup Competition is an appellate advocacy competition at the LSU Law Center in which students compete individually over the course of the entire spring semester 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.
2023 Dean’s Cup Competition
2023 Competition Dates:
- Competitor Registration Period: January 9-March 1, 2023
- Preliminary Round A: Monday, March 6, 2023 between 6 and 10 pm
- Preliminary Round B: Wednesday, March 8, 2023 between 6 and 10 pm
- Quarterfinal Round: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 between 6 and 10 pm
- Semifinal Round: Monday, March 20, between 6 and 10 pm
- Final Round: Monday, March 27, 2023 between 6 and 10 pm
Competition Materials:
Case #1 (Preliminary Rounds): In re Grand Jury, No. 21-1397
Case #2 (Quarterfinal and Semifinal Rounds): Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc. v. VIP Products LLC, No. 22-148
Case #3 (Final Round): Gonzalez v. Google LLC, No. 21-1333
General Resources:
- Guide for Counsel in Cases To Be Argued Before the Supreme Court of the United States
- Rule 28 (Oral Argument) of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Federal Rule of Evidence 201 (Judicial Notice of Adjudicative Facts)
Prior Dean’s Cup Winners:
- 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
