Dean’s Cup Competition
The Dean’s Cup Competition is an appellate advocacy competition at the LSU Law Center in which students compete individually over the course of the entire spring semester for the right to claim the Dean’s Cup. The competition simulates oral argument before the United States Supreme Court in a series of three real, currently-pending United States Supreme Court cases. Competitors will be provided the parties’ briefs, the decision of the court below, and other relevant documents, and will compete in oral arguments through a series of individual elimination brackets. Competitors are not required to submit written briefs.
The Dean’s Cup Competition is open to members of the second and third-year classes only.
2021 Dean’s Cup Competition
2021 Competition Dates:
- Competitor Registration Period: February 8-March 1, 2021
- Preliminary Round 1: March 8, 2021
- Preliminary Round 2: March 11, 2021
- Quarterfinal Round: March 18, 2021
- Semifinal Round: March 22, 2021
- Final Round: March 29, 2021 at 6:00 pm CST (streamed live at facebook.com/LSULawAdvocacy)
Competition Rules and Registration:
The 2021 Dean’s Cup Competition will be held entirely on Zoom.
- 2021 Dean’s Cup Competition Rules and Procedures
- Registration has closed for the 2021 Dean’s Cup Competition. Good luck to all competitors!
Case #1 (Preliminary Rounds): Lange v. California, No. 20-18
- Questions Presented
- Brief on the Merits for Petitioner
- Brief on the Merits for Respondent
- Note: The brief linked here is the brief submitted by counsel appointed by the Supreme Court to represent the judgment below; this brief will serve as “respondent’s brief on the merits” for purposes of this competition. The State of California, the nominal respondent in this case, reversed its prior position in this case and filed a brief in support of petitioner. Teams may reference California’s brief for vacatur [which is not linked here] as an amicus brief per the Dean’s Cup competition rules.
- Petitioner’s Reply Brief
- Amici Curiae and Other Documents
Case #2 (Quarterfinal and Semifinal Rounds): Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid, No. 20-107
- Questions Presented
- Brief on the Merits for Petitioner
- Brief on the Merits for Respondent
- Petitioner’s Reply Brief (coming soon!)
- Amici Curiae and Other Documents
Case #3 (Final Round): National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston, No. 20-512
- Questions Presented
- Brief on the Merits for Petitioner
- Brief on the Merits for Respondent
- Petitioner’s Reply Brief
- Amici Curiae and Other Documents
General Resources:
- Guide for Counsel in Cases To Be Argued Before the Supreme Court of the United States
- Rule 28 (Oral Argument) of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Federal Rule of Evidence 201 (Judicial Notice of Adjudicative Facts)
Prior Dean’s Cup Winners:
- 2020: Juan Moreno
- 2019: J. William VanDehei
- 2018: Ahmed Soussi
- 2017: Alaina Richard
- 2016: Andrew Hairston
- 2015: J. Benjamin Aguiñaga
- 2014: Danielle Borel
- 2013: Christopher Cummings
