Congratulations to the Iowa Law students who showcased their skills in the final competitions of the Appellate Advocacy Program!
The Appellate Advocacy Program (AAII) offers second-year students a platform to hone their advocacy skills by preparing and presenting arguments on legal issues in a simulated adversarial environment. During oral arguments, students present their cases before a panel of judges, typically consisting of two students, one faculty member, and one practicing attorney or judge.
The culminating events for this year’s Appellate Advocacy Program occurred on March 1, featuring two distinct competitions: the Jessup and Van Oosterhout-Baskerville (VOB). Siduri Beckman secured the top advocate award in the VOB competition, while Michael Acherkan claimed the title of best advocate in the Jessup competition.
Michael Acherkan reflects on his rewarding experience in AAII, emphasizing the invaluable teamwork and support from his partners throughout the competition.
“I had a great experience in AAII, and the teamwork aspect was awesome. I'm grateful for all the hard work my partner Isaac put in during the first round. I would have struggled a lot when it came time to switch issues if not for him. And Patty, my partner for the final round, was the best teammate anyone could have asked for. To me, that's the best part of Appellate Advocacy, teamwork that involves supporting your partner and trusting them to support you in the same way. It's extremely rewarding, and I recommend AAII to anyone looking to become a better advocate while in law school.”
3L and executive director of AAII, Michael Hegarty, expresses immense pride in this year's award winners and incoming national competition teams.
“The Board and I are so proud of this year’s award winners and the incoming national competition teams. Their achievements are the direct result of two semesters of hard work, not a second of which is lost on us. We cannot wait to follow their triumphs during Supreme Court Day, each of their national competitions, and the rest of their careers.”
Isabelle Breitfelder, a 3L serving as the academic director of AAII, echoes Hegarty’s enthusiasm for seeing her peers excel.
“I am incredibly excited for the final round advocates and those who will compete on the moot court teams next year,” says Isabelle. “As I was helping the final round advocates prepare and watching the final rounds, I realized how grateful I am for my time with the moot court programs and how fortunate those advocates are to have another year of moot court. I’m sure going to miss it!”
Iowa Supreme Court Day, the college’s longest-standing tradition, marks an annual celebration honoring the state’s highest court and commemorating National Constitution Day. The top 2L advocates from this spring’s VOB and Jessup competitions will have the opportunity to argue a moot case before the justices in the fall as they transition to 3Ls. Public oral arguments will also take place during the event.
Having observed her peers argue before the Supreme Court Justices during her 1L year, Siduri Beckman was captivated by the opportunity. Now, that fascination has materialized into an exciting reality as she and her peers Sydney Wagner, Alex Lewis, and Matthew Moreland were chosen to present their case at this year’s Supreme Court Day on Friday, September 6, 2024.
“Watching Iowa Supreme Court Day was one of the first things that I did as a 1L, and I immediately became excited about the opportunity to argue in front of real judges as a law student,” says Siduri. “I was thrilled to be chosen to participate in the final round of the VOB Competition, although I’ll admit that I was nervous before the argument started. However, once I started answering questions from judges who knew every nuance of that area of law, I felt the same excitement all over again. I’m honored to have had the opportunity to argue in front of Judge Kelly, Judge Locher, Magistrate Judge Docherty, and Judge Bailey, and I’m very grateful to my mentors at Iowa Law.”
As we wrap up this year’s VOB and Jessup competitions, Iowa Law extends its heartfelt appreciation to the members of the AAII Board for their exceptional efforts throughout the year.
2023 - 2024 Board members include:
Michael Hegarty, Executive Director
Isabelle Breitfelder, Academic Director
Hugh Zehr, Administrative Director
Cari Wadman, Supreme Court Day Coordinator and Competitions Director
Jake Elliott, Appellate Advocacy I Problem Writer
Jaycie Owens, Van Oosterhout-Baskerville Problem Writer
Jessica Davis, Jessup Problem Writer
Below, you’ll find comprehensive results from both the VOB and Jessup competitions, details about the advocates for Supreme Court Day, and a preview of next year’s Moot Court competition teams.
Van Oosterhout-Baskerville (VOB) Competition
VOB Top Advocate:
Siduri Beckman
VOB Top Three Oralists:
Alex Lewis
Matthew Moreland
Elliott Abromeit
VOB Top Three Briefs:
Kyle Glanzer
Sydney Wagner
Matthew Moreland
Jessup Competition
Jessup Top Advocate: Mikhail Acherkan
Jessup Top Three Oralists:
Johnathan Melvin
West Connors
Cami Hunter
Jessup Top Three Briefs:
Ashley Chipokas
Patricia Linninger
Johnathan Melvin
Supreme Court Day Advocates
Siduri Beckman
Sydney Wagner
Alex Lewis
Matthew Moreland
Moot Court Competition Teams (2024-2025)
National Moot Court Team:
Siduri Beckman
Alec Goos
Lydia Lavrova
Alex Lewis
Matthew Moreland
Sydney Wagner
Baskerville Team:
Garrison Allen
Allie (Alethea) Gauthier
Andrew Hamilton
Amy Johnson
James Miller
Brennden Prohaska
Environmental Moot Team:
Alex LeLouis
Jonathan Lewallen
Zachary Sides
Jessup Team:
Catriona Barr
Chandler Farquhar
Patricia Linninger
Johnathan Melvin
Kevin Moore