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2009 Ames Moot Court Competition

November 16, 2009

Competitors at the 2009 Ames Moot Court with Justices Richard A. Posner, Diane P. Wood, Barrington D. Parker.
Credit: Phil Farnsworth

Case: Springfield v. Humans Against the Consumption of Animals (HACA)

A writ of certiorari is granted on the following two questions:

  1. In light of this Court’s decision in Pleasant Grove City v. Summum, did the Court of Appeals for the Ames Circuit err in finding that the Ames Specialty License Plate Program involved a hybrid of government and private speech requiring First Amendment protections?
  2. Assuming at least some private speech is implicated by the Ames Specialty License Plate Program, did the Court of Appeals for the Ames Circuit err in finding that the State’s Specialty License Plate Program created a limited public forum and that the State’s rejection of a vegan non-profit organization’s message was not viewpoint neutral?

Judges

Hon. Richard A. Posner ’62, U.S. Court of Appeals for The Seventh Circuit
Hon. Diane P. Wood, U.S. Court of Appeals for The Seventh Circuit
Hon. Barrington D. Parker, U.S. Court of Appeals for The Second Circuit

Teams

Clarence Darrow Memorial Team

PETITIONERS

Best Brief

Paul Bailin
Ryan Buschell
Nicolas Cornell
Kathryn Nielson, Oralist
Ray Seilie, Oralist
William Sullivan

The Charles Sumner Memorial Team

RESPONDENTS

Best Overall

Anna Fecker
Candyce Phoenix, Oralist
Colleen Roh
Hillary Schrenell
Hagan Scotten, Best Oralist
Tobias Tobler

Watch the video: 2009 Ames Moot Court Competition

Final Round

Springfield v. Humans Against the Consumption of Animals (HACA)