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Congratulations to Allison Kruschke, Hannah Buzolits, and Jordan Giles of Michigan State University College of Law for winning the 2019-2020 National Appellate Advocacy Best Brief Award.

This year, the ABA Law Student Division was able to complete the written portion of the competition, and we are able to announce the 2019-2020 top 5 National Best Briefs.

Best Brief, NAAC Nationals

Michigan State University College of Law, Team 342
Allison Kruschke, Hannah Buzolits, and Jordan Giles
(from the Oklahoma City regional)

Second–Fifth Place

Second Place: Loyola Law School – Los Angeles, Team 675
Ashley McLachlan, Cody Elliott, and Jonathan Sears
(from the San Francisco regional)

Third Place: Florida International University College of Law, Team 573
Jordan Esteban, Katryna Santa Cruz, and Michael Ellis
(from the Brooklyn regional)

Fourth Place: Wayne State University Law School, Team 351
Benjamin Wu, Kayce Nieto, and Meagan Dreher
(from the Philadelphia regional)

Fifth Place: Regent University School of Law, Team 828
Abigail Taylor, Alexandria Overcash, and Donna Kinney
(from the Philadelphia regional)

Boston Regional

Best Advocate Awards

1. Clayton Hart, South Texas College of Law Houston, Team 206
2. Delilah Cassidy, Arizona State University – Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Team 654
3 (TIE). Bobbye Pyke, University of Houston Law Center, Team 278
3 (TIE). Alisann Anderson, Ohio State University – Moritz College of Law, Team 494
5. Javier Gonzales South, Texas College of Law Houston, Team 206
6. Brooke Franco Arizona, State University – Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Team 654
7. Edmund Abel, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Team 176
8 (TIE). Kade Beyer, University of Houston Law Center, Team 350
8 (TIE). Sean Kim, New York University School of Law, Team 430
10. Daniel Hovatter, University of Akron School of Law, Team 659

Best Brief Awards

1. New York University School of Law, Team 430
2. Ohio State University – Moritz College of Law, Team 823
3. Seton Hall University School of Law, Team 255
4. University of Richmond School of Law, Team 468
5. South Texas College of Law Houston, Team 448

Regional Champions

Arizona State University – Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Team 159
University of Houston Law Center, Team 350
Ohio State University – Moritz College of Law, Team 494
South Texas College of Law Houston, Team 448

Brooklyn Regional

Best Advocate Awards

1. Marisa Garcia, Belmont University College of Law, Team 713
2. Matthew Wagner, Cleveland State University-Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Team 440
3 (TIE). Annie Rosenthal, University of Miami School of Law, Team 168
3 (TIE). Taylor Johnson, Samford University – Cumberland School of Law, Team 300
5. Evelyn Schwalb, Barry University – Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, Team 378
6. Eric Sorice, Barry University – Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, Team 477
7. Alexander Amico, William and Mary Law School, Team 504
8 (TIE). Jamarcus Macartney, Cleveland State University-Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Team 440
8 (TIE). Eric Donica, Belmont University College of Law, Team 713
10. John Nix, Belmont University College of Law, Team 322

Best Brief Awards

1. Belmont University College of Law, Team 713
2. Florida International University College of Law, Team 573
3. Texas A&M University School of Law, Team 751
4. University of Oklahoma College of Law, Team 403
5. University of St. Thomas School of Law – Minneapolis, Team 289

Regional Champions

Belmont University College of Law, Team 713
Texas A&M University School of Law, Team 751
Florida International University College of Law, Team 573
Brooklyn Law School, Team 854

DC Regional

Best Advocate Awards

1. Clayton Buckner, George Mason University School of Law, Team 271
2. Michael Maunder, Liberty University School of Law, Team 735
3. Devin Mashman, University of Georgia School of Law, Team 112
4. Sarah Traynor, Wake Forest University School of Law, Team 240
5. William T. Farr, University of Arkansas School of Law, Team 601
6. Natsumi Covey, St. Mary’s University School of Law, Team 637
7. Matthew Hughes, Liberty University School of Law, Team 735
8. Robert Lackey, American University, Washington College of Law, Team 644
9. Julie Leary, Marquette University Law School, Team 461
10. Cara Brack, Duquesne University School of Law, Team 101

Best Brief Awards

1. Duquesne University School of Law, Team 796
2. St. Mary’s University School of Law, Team 637
3. University of Arkansas School of Law, Team 725
4. Capital University Law School, Team 273
5. Marquette University Law School, Team 155

Regional Champions

American University, Washington College of Law, Team 644
George Mason University School of Law, Team 271
Liberty University School of Law, Team 735
St. Mary’s University School of Law, Team 637

Oklahoma City Regional

Best Advocate Awards

1. Hannah Buzolits, Michigan State University College of Law, Team 342
2. Monica Smit, John Marshall Law School (Chicago), Team 296
3. Jordan Giles, Michigan State University College of Law, Team 342
4. Ariel Newman, Mercer University – Walter F. George School of Law, Team 359
5. Andrew Fischer, University of Colorado Law School, Team 688
6. Lucas Asbury, Drake University Law School, Team 536
7. Kamran Anwar, UNT Dallas College of Law, Team 606
8. Ashley Daltrey, University of Arizona-James E. Rogers College of Law, Team 257
9. Luca Giovine, University of Wisconsin Law School, Team 683
10. Sean Wilson, Concordia University School of Law, Team 513

Best Brief Awards

1. University of Colorado Law School, Team 526
2. John Marshall Law School (Chicago), Team 296
3. UNT Dallas College of Law, Team 606
4. Concordia University School of Law, Team 513
5. Louisiana State University – Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Team 253

Regional Champions

Mercer University – Walter F. George School of Law, Team 359
University of Colorado Law School, Team 526
UNT Dallas College of Law, Team 606
Michigan State University College of Law, Team 342

Philadelphia Regional

Best Advocate Awards

1. Abigail Taylor, Regent University School of Law, Team 828
2. Stone Hendrickson, University of Alabama School of Law, Team 482
3. Brooke Bohlen, Texas Tech University School of Law, Team 282
4. Iman Zekri, University of Florida – Fredric G. Levin College of Law, Team 741
5. Mollie Gillis, University of Alabama School of Law, Team 482
6 (TIE). Max Accardi, Washington University School of Law (St. Louis), Team 557
6 (TIE). Jeffrey Delman, Texas Tech University School of Law, Team 282
8. Eliza Jones, University of Memphis – Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Team 223
9. Patricia Martin, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Team 235
10 (TIE). Katherine Avetta, Drexel University School of Law,, Team 180
10 (TIE). Richard Daniels, Loyola University Chicago School of Law,, Team 235

Best Brief Awards

1. University of Memphis – Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Team 223
2. Texas Tech University School of Law, Team 552
3. Wayne State University Law School, Team 351
4 (TIE). University of Notre Dame Law School, Team 310
4 (TIE). Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Team 235

Regional Champions

Texas Tech University School of Law, Team 552
Regent University School of Law, Team 828
University of Florida – Fredric G. Levin College of Law, Team 741
Wayne State University Law School, Team 351

San Francisco Regional

Best Advocate Awards

1. Ashley McLachlan, Loyola Law School – Los Angeles, Team 675
2. Andrew Swallows, Baylor University School of Law, Team 249
3. Chris Netniss, Loyola Law School – Los Angeles, Team 261
4. Claire McGuire, University of Utah – S.J. Quinney College of Law, Team 693
5. Rachel Briones, Northwestern University School of Law, Team 466
6 (TIE). Kylie Calabrese, Baylor University School of Law, Team 531
6 (TIE). Maura Duffey, University of San Diego School of Law, Team 829
8. Emily McCormick, Northwestern University School of Law, Team 185
9. Daniel Warren, McGeorge School of Law, Team 762
10. Matthew Tang, Loyola Law School – Los Angeles, Team 261

Best Brief Awards

1. Loyola Law School – Los Angeles, Team 675
2. McGeorge School of Law, Team 762
3. Northwestern University School of Law, Team 466
4. University of San Diego School of Law, Team 829
5. Willamette University College of Law, Team 839

Regional Champions

Loyola Law School – Los Angeles, Team 675
Baylor University School of Law, Team 531
Northwestern University School of Law, Team 466
Northwestern University School of Law, Team 185