From L to R: Victoria Biondolillo, Sam Winter, and Annie Pierce

A team from Catholic Law showcased their talent in this year’s prestigious D.C. Cup Moot Court Competition. Team members Victoria Biondolillo (2L) and Annie Pierce (3L), under the guidance of their coach Sam Winter (3L), submitted their appellate brief in January and competed in the initial rounds on February 22 and 23. Their strong performance advanced them to the final round, held on February 28, where they went head-to-head with a team from George Washington University Law School.

This achievement marks the second consecutive year that Catholic Law has reached the final round of this highly competitive tournament. The final arguments took place in the historic Ceremonial Courtroom of the D.C. Court of Appeals. The distinguished panel of judges included Senior Judge Phyllis D. Thompson of the D.C. Court of Appeals, D.C. Solicitor General Caroline S. Van Zile, and Shaun Snyder, President of the D.C. Bar and CEO of the National Association of State Treasurers.

In a fiercely contested final round, both teams displayed remarkable mastery of case law, legal reasoning, and quick thinking under intense pressure. Ultimately, Catholic Law emerged victorious, a testament to their skill and preparation. Additionally, Annie Pierce was honored with the award for Best Oralist, further highlighting the team's outstanding performance.

Biondolillo and Pierce reflected on their victory, expressing heartfelt gratitude: "First and foremost, we want to thank our incredibly dedicated coach, Samantha Winter (3L). We are also deeply grateful to everyone who helped prepare us, including Harry Kazenoff (3L), Gerald Sharpe (3L), Rebecca Regis (2L), Professor Perez, Professor Rienzi, Professor Schmidt, Professor Schooner, Professor Rebecca Tushnet (Harvard Law), Mai-Trang Dang, and Scott Pierce. Lastly, we extend our thanks to our chancellor, Jay-Jay McCargo (3L), for his unwavering support."

They added, "It’s an honor to bring home Catholic Law’s first DC Cup championship, but what makes us prouder is the journey we took to achieve it. Our team worked tirelessly, supported one another, and found moments of joy and laughter throughout the process."

The D.C. Cup, hosted by the D.C. Bar Association, is an appellate advocacy competition that brings together six law schools in Washington, D.C. The competition focuses on federal law and legal issues unique to the nation’s capital, including the Home Rule Act and the D.C. Family and Medical Leave Act. By addressing areas of split authority, the competition fosters spirited debate on both sides of the issues and encourages participants to delve into policy-based arguments.

Catholic Law's continued success in this tournament highlights the strength of its advocacy program and the dedication of its students to excellence in legal argumentation.