2020 Ames Moot Court Competition

March 17, 2021

Zoom grid of 16 faces
The two teams had the opportunity to debrief with the judges after the competition. Credit: Martha Stewart

Case: Tanner v. State of Ames

Zoom screen showing three judges
Dean John F. Manning and three justices on Zoom at the 2021 Ames Finals

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

  1. Whether the Ames Nonconsensual Pornography Act, Ames Crim. Stat. 545, violates the First Amendment.
  2. Whether the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination allows a defendant to refuse to disclose the password to her computer and phone, when the government has a warrant to search those devices.
Read the Joint Appendix

Judges

Hon. Stephen G. Breyer ’64, Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
Hon. Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, Supreme Court of California
Hon. Judith W. Rogers ’64, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Teams

Justice Robert H. Jackson Memorial Team

Photo of six students two women and four men, the Robert H. Jackson Memorial Team.
Credit: Tony Rinaldo

Petitioners

Best Brief

Matthew Arons, Oralist
Max Bloom
Taylor Custer, Oralist
Dustin Fire
Colleen O’Gorman
Sam Stratton

The Lloyd Gaines Memorial Team

Photo of the Lloyd Gaines Memorial Team on March 10, 2020 at the Ames Semi-Finals
Credit: Tony Rinaldo

Respondents

Best Overall

Jason Bell, Oralist
Ameze Belo-Osagie
Lauren Bilow
Davis Campbell
Travis Fife, Best Oralist
Michael Torcello

“Very good issues, very well prepared, and well argued.”

HON. STEPHEN G. BREYER ’64
Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court

Taking Ames

On March 10, two teams of HLS students faced off for the final round of the Ames Moot Court Competition. For the first time in its more than 100-year-old history, the competition was conducted virtually, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Read the full story

Watch the Video: 2020 Ames Moot Court Competition

Final Round

Tanner v. State of Ames