LSU Law 3L student Ahmed Soussi won the 2018 Dean’s Cup Moot Court Competition on April 9 in the Robinson Courtroom of the LSU Law Center. Jacob Irving finished runner-up.
In the final round, Soussi and Irving argues the case of Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, which involves election laws that forbid voters from wearing political badges, political button, or other political insignia at the polling place. The ban broadly prohibits any material “designed to influence and impact voting,” or “promoting a group with recognizable political views,” even when the apparel makes no reference to any issue or candidate on the ballot.
Soussi argues that the ban was a direct violation of the First Amendment, while Irving argues for the state of Minnesota.
The case was judged by Tom Galligan, LSU Law dean; the Honorable Patrick Hanna, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Louisiana; the Honorable Toni Higginbotham, Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal; Elizabeth Merrill, Solicitor General of Louisiana; and Wilbur Stiles, Chief Deputy Attorney General.
Ronald Coleman and Soil Sharedalal placed as semifinalists in the oral competition, and Christopher Alderman, Jonathan Cobb, Seth Lawrence, and Thomas Naquin each placed as quarterfinalists.
The Dean’s Cup Moot Court Competition refines students’ oral advocacy skills by arguing a series of real cases currently pending before the United States Supreme Court. The first competition was first held in the 2011-12 academic year.
