Judge not, lest ye be... no, wait a minute, moot court judging opportunities available

The Appellate Lawyers Association and the Chicago Bar Association are both looking for moot court judges and brief graders to help out with upcoming competitions.

The ALA is holding its annual Donald C. Hudson Memorial Moot Court Competition on Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4, 2023. The competition will be staged at the DePaul University College of Law on Friday, November 3. The location of the November 4 session will be announced later.

Attorney volunteers (ALA members or other attorneys with significant appellate experience) are needed to judge oral arguments at 9:30 a.m., noon, and 3:30 p.m. on Friday, November 3, and at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 4. CLE credit is availalbe for moot court judges.

Actual Appellate Court Justices will assist in judging the semi-final and final rounds. Past judges of the Semi-Final and Final rounds have included Justice Donald C. Hudson, Justice William E. Holdridge, Justice Nathaniel R. Howse, Jr., Justice Margaret Stanton McBride, Justice Michael B. Hyman, Justice Mary K. Rochford, Justice Maureen Connors, Justice Sharon Oden Johnson, Justice Cynthia Cobbs, Justice Jesse Reyes, Justice Mary L. Mikva, Justice Judy Lynn Cates and Justice Mary Anne Mason of the Appellate Court of Illinois.

Volunteers are also needed to grade briefs submitted by law student contestants in October. Unfortunately, Illinois MCLE rules do not allow the award of CLE credit for grading briefs.

There are also sponsorship opportunities available for this tournament. To volunteer to serve as a grader and/or judge, or for more information about sponsorship opportunities, email cteed@wmrhq.com.

The Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section's 41st Annual Moot Court Competition is set for Thursday, November 16 through Saturday, November 18. As with the ALA competition, attorney volunteers are needed to serve as brief graders and judges. Also, as with the ALA competition, MCLE credit is only available for moot court judges.

Graders need a stronger union.

Judges are needed for these sessions:

• Thursday, November 16 - 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, November 16 - 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, November 17 - 5:30 p.m.
• Friday, November 17 - 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 18 - 9:00 a.m.
• Saturday, November 18 - 11:00 a.m.

Each brief grader will receive approximately four or five briefs, brief score sheets, and a summary of the case law and arguments expected from petitioner and respondent on both major issues. This year, the briefs will be e-mailed to volunteer graders on or about October 16. All brief score sheets are due by November 6.

To volunteer as a judge for the CBA YLS competition, complete and email this Google Doc form to mootcourt@chicagobar.org. Volunteer graders should complete and return this form. Questions about this event should be directed to mootcourt@chicagobar.org.