State Moot Court Competition
Open to all ABA-accredited law schools in Texas and held in connection with the State Bar Annual Meeting. The Texas Supreme Court or the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals presides over the final round (depending on whether it is a civil or criminal problem).

The competition will be held in Fort Worth during the State Bar's Annual Meeting, June 7-10, 2010. If you are interested in participating in the competition, please contact Bree Trevino at btrevino@texasbar.com.

SMC Competition

• 2010 SMC Problem - REVISED
• Updated Competition Rules
• Sample Brief Ballot
• Sample Oral Ballot
• Judges Instruction Form
• Bailiff Instruction Form

Deadlines:

Friday, April 2, 2010 - Deadline for mailing requests for clarification of the problem.  (Must be postmarked by this date.)

Friday, April 23, 2010 - Deadline for mailing briefs. (Must be postmarked by this date.)  PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BRIEFS MAY BE EMAILED TO EACH LAW SCHOOL.   PLEASE STILL SEND 4 BOUND AND COVERED HARD COPIES TO THE TYLA OFFICE. Please see the Competition Rules for more information.

TYLA conducted its annual State Moot Court competition in June 2009 during the State Bar Annual Meeting. As in the past, State Moot was a success. Last year the problem was a criminal case concerning a lewd gesture, freedom of speech, and the Court of Criminal Appeals' “8th Grade Grammar Test” among other issues.

Seven law schools from around Texas participated in the three day event: Baylor, Houston, St. Mary's, South Texas College of Law, Southern Methodist, Texas Tech, and Texas Wesleyan. Each team competed against every other team during the preliminary rounds with the four highest ranking teams advancing to the semi-finals. The four advancing teams were Houston, South Texas, Southern Methodist, and Texas Tech. These teams competed before panels of sitting and former appellate court judges, sitting trial judges, and appellate law specialists. For the championship, Texas Tech defeated Southern Methodist before the judges of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and “visiting judge” Rob Cañas of the County Court at Law No.10, Dallas County.

The award for Best Brief went to Texas Tech University, with St. Mary's University placing 2nd and Southern Methodist placing 3rd. Rickie Cayton from Texas Tech was named Best Oral Advocate. Randy Macchi from the University of Houston placed 2nd and Ryan King from South Texas College of Law placed 3rd.

Past Problems

• 2008-2009 State Moot Court Problem
• 2007-2008 State Moot Court Problem
• 2006-2007 State Moot Court Problem
• 2004-2005 State Moot Court Problem
• 2003-2004 State Moot Court Problem
• 2005-2006 State Moot Court Problem