The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law hosted the 30th Annual National Telecommunications and Technology Moot Court Competition from Friday, February 9 to Saturday, February 10. This year’s competition, organized jointly by the Law School’s Law & Technology Institute (LTI), its Moot Court Association, and the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA), welcomed eight teams of competitors from seven schools to compete in Catholic Law’s state-of-the-art building during the two-day event. This year’s roster of schools included:

• The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law (Catholic Law)
• American University Washington College of Law
• George Washington University Law School (GW)
• New York University School of Law (NYU)
• University of Colorado Law School
• Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University (Duquesne)
• University of Virginia School of Law

Competing before experienced communications and technology law practitioners, teams addressed current topics in communications and technology law, wrote briefs, and participated in oral arguments on a Section 230 problem involving the Major Questions Doctrine, Chevron Deference, First Amendment, and the Administrative Procedure Act.

The competition boasted a number of FCBA practitioners who judged briefs and oral arguments. Among them were Brendan Carr, commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission; Diane (Griffin) Holland, president of the FCBA; and Deena Shetler, chief of staff of the Office of Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, all of whom served on the competition’s final round.

After the weekend’s events, Lee Petro, Special Counsel at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman who also serves as an alumnus organizer for the competition, extended special thanks to Catholic Law Student Vice Chancellor Julia O'Toole (3L); Megan La Belle, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; and FCBA Committee members Andrew Magloughlin, Grant Gendron, Sara Baxenberg, Ashley Brydone-Jack, and Logan Bennett, Esq., who is also a Catholic Law alumna.

30th Annual National Telecommunications and Technology Moot Court Competition Winners:

Julia O'Toole with the 30th Annual National Telecommunications and Technology Moot Court Competition's winning team from New York University School of Law. 

• Best Overall: Natalie Lalama, Nicholas Tilmes, Emmett Tabor (NYU)
• Second Best Overall: Tahmineh Dehbozorgi, Cashen Nielsen & Seriana Saltzen (GW)
• Best Oralist: Nicholas Tilmes (NYU)
• Best Brief: Jason Whiting and Megan Penn (Duquesne)