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And so began the 2018 Rothgerber Appellate Briefing Competition after months of preparation, and in continuance of the 68-year tradition of friendly intraschool competition. In one of the most anticipated events of the spring, Colorado Law students take to the courtroom for a chance to prevail in the school鈥檚 foremost internal appellate advocacy competition. Many compete, but only the top four advocates stand before a panel of distinguished jurists to battle for the honor of the Austin W. Scott Jr. Award for best oralist.

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In December, Colorado Law鈥檚 Barristers鈥� Council releases a two-issue hypothetical case related to a current legal issue. These problems often reflect a case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, and students often must analyze circuit splits to advocate on behalf of their hypothetical client. Once the problem is released, teams of two students write an extensive brief and prepare for the initial round of oral arguments. After the first round, students advance to the semifinals individually for a 15-minute argument in hopes of qualifying for the finals. The four top-scoring contestants are paired into teams and face off in the final round in front of some of the nation鈥檚 preeminent judges. The final competition in the Wittemyer Courtroom is a culmination of collaborative team briefs and multiple rounds of oral arguments. This event presents an exciting showcase for legal scholars to display their talent and passion for appellate advocacy.

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Historically, the final three-judge panel has consisted of Colorado Supreme Court justices and judges from the U.S. circuit courts. This year, Colorado Law had the pleasure of hosting the Honorable Melissa Hart, Colorado Supreme Court; the Honorable Harris L. Hartz, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit; and the Honorable William W. Hood, Colorado Supreme Court, all of whom volunteered their time to prepare for the final arguments. Arguing a mock appeal offers a unique opportunity for students to apply their classroom knowledge to a practical experience, and every year鈥檚 panel of jurists, through rigorous questioning, challenges competitors to define the bounds of their argument in an effort to secure a victory. After the arguments, winners are announced, and the Rothgerber Reading Room in the William A. Wise Law Library is abuzz with

finalists, competition alumni, and judges in a celebratory reception. The reception provides an excellent forum for alumni and current students to mingle and share their experiences. The reading room is also host to a trophy that features all Austin W. Scott Jr. Award winners as well as a collection of plaques inscribed to commemorate all past competition finalists. The Rothgerber Competition was endowed in 1951 by Ira C. Rothgerber Jr. (鈥�35) in honor of his father, Judge Ira C. Rothgerber, who served on the Denver County Court from 1913 to 1921. The endowment not only funds the competition but also provides for sizable scholarship prizes for student finalists.

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The Barristers鈥� Council congratulates Hannah Regan-Smith (鈥�19), the 2018 Austin W. Scott Jr. Award winner for best oralist, and Alex Kirven (鈥�18) and Regan-Smith for their achievement as the prevailing team in the 2018 competition. Those who have competed laud the competition as one of their most cherished experiences during their time at Colorado Law, and with the help of the Rothgerber endowment, the Barristers鈥� Council looks forward to continuing the tradition.