On March 21-22, Catholic Law in Washington, D.C., hosted the 75th Annual Seigenthaler-Sutherland Cup National First Amendment Moot Court Competition, co-sponsored by the Law School's Center for Religious Liberty. This prestigious event, which is part of Catholic Law’s First Amendment Initiatives, brought together competitors, coaches, judges, and lawyers from across the country. The 2025 competition featured 32 teams from 28 law schools nationwide, showcasing some of the brightest law students.

This year’s problem was crafted by Professor A.G. Harmon, Associate Dean of Bench and Bar Programs, who also authored the facts forming its foundation. Students Brett Zicari (3L), Andy Lewis (2L), and Leo Kaardal (3L) contributed by drafting the district court and appellate court opinions, as well as the bench brief. Their work was supervised and refined by Professor Susanna Fischer, Director of the Comparative and International Law Institute and the International Human Rights Summer Law School Program in Rome, alongside Professor Harmon.

The case involved a petitioner—a Native American nonprofit organization—attempting to halt the sale of a site located inside a government-owned state park. The petitioner has conducted religious ceremonies at the site since before the founding of the nation, but it sits upon the largest lithium deposit ever discovered in America and the state claims the mineral load is needed for a compelling governmental interest.

The competition kicked off on Friday with two preliminary rounds. That evening, participants and judges gathered in the Louise H. Keelty and James K. Keelty, Jr. Atrium for a reception. The space was adorned with banners honoring the champions of the past 74 competitions, setting a tone of tradition and excellence. During the reception, MaryBeth Falvey (3L), Vice-Chancellor of the Seigenthaler-Sutherland Competition, announced the teams advancing to the next stage. Saturday’s events featured the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the much-anticipated final round. Twelve outstanding teams earned their spots for Day Two, continuing their quest for success in this prestigious event.

Quarter Finals:

• Boston College Law School (Team 23)
• The Catholic University of America (Team 27)
• George Mason University (Team 10)
• Liberty University School of Law (Team 30)
• Marquette University Law School (Team 11)
• Michigan State University (Team 18)
• New York Law School (Team 26)
• NYU Law (Team 28)
• Seton Hall Law School (Team 09)
• South Texas College of Law Houston (Team 01)
• UNLV Boyd School of Law (Team 13)
• University of Virginia School of Law (Team 12)

Semi-Finals:

• The Catholic University of America (Team 27)
• NYU Law (Team 28)
• South Texas College of Law Houston (Team 01)
• University of Virginia School of Law (Team 12)

Final Round:

• The Catholic University of America (Team 27)
• South Texas College of Law Houston (Team 01)

Falvey proudly represented Catholic Law over the weekend, overseeing the large-scale competition that was the culmination of a year’s meticulous planning. Sharing her gratitude, Falvey expressed, “My deepest thanks go to the nearly 100 brief and oral argument judges who generously dedicated their time and expertise to make this competition a success. I am also immensely grateful to Renee Stack, Jay-Jay McCargo, Maura Meservey, the Moot Court Association, and the many friends of the competition. Their unwavering support, assistance, and encouragement made this weekend possible.”

The Law School extends its heartfelt appreciation to the distinguished individuals who volunteered as brief and oral argument judges, lending their invaluable expertise to the event. The final round was judged by an esteemed panel, including The Honorable Mark Martin, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina and current Dean of High Point Law; The Honorable Joseph Leeson, United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; The Honorable Edward Meyers, Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims; and Gene Policinski, Esq., Senior Fellow at The Freedom Forum, former President and COO of the Newseum Institute, and a founding editor of USA Today.

Their contributions helped make this event an unforgettable experience, showcasing the dedication and excellence of Catholic Law.

Best Oralist Runner-Up:
Jacklyn Morgentaler, Seton Hall Law School

Best Oralist - Richard G. Arnold Award:
Adeline Lee, University of Virginia School of Law

Best Brief Runner-Up:
Michael Black and Nick Schifano, George Mason University

Best Brief - Ralph J. Rohner Award:
Joseph McCarthy, Joseph Schimp, and Rodrigo Villalobos, Marquette Law School

Second Place Overall:
Joseph Hill, Gerald Sharpe, and Lucy Wess, The Catholic University of America

First Place Overall:
Memona Niazi, Marc Wynne, and Neal Greene, South Texas College of Law Houston

Photos from the 2025 SSC Competition are available here.