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Paul A. McLennon, Sr., Honors Moot Court Competition Final Round

About the Paul A. McLennon, Sr., Honors Moot Court Competition

The Paul A. McLennon, Sr., Honors Moot Court Competition provides an opportunity for students to develop their brief writing and advocacy skills and to test these skills in an open, rigorous competition. Organized by the Appellate Moot Court Board, the competition consists of several preliminary rounds, culminating in the final round argued before a distinguished panel of judges. This competition was established by USD Professor-in-Residence Michael Devitt to honor longtime family friend, attorney and naval officer, Paul A. McLennon, Sr.

Esteemed Judges

• Judge J. Clifford Wallace, Senior Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• Judge Louisa Porter ’77, Magistrate Judge (ret.), United States District Court, Southern District of California
• Justice Alex C. McDonald, Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Fourth District

Schedule

• Final Round Competition – 5:00 p.m.
• Reception – 6:15 p.m.
• Dinner (by invitation only) – 7:00 p.m.

Case Before the Court

In the fictitious case of Prescott v. Gerard, respondent Jordan Gerard sued petitioner Angela Prescott, claiming that petitioner defamed respondent in a post written on petitioner’s blog, Lawyers Love Laughter (LLL). Respondent wishes to include petitioner’s confidential source in the lawsuit and files motion to compel petitioner to reveal her confidential source. Petitioner filed a motion for protective order, claiming a reporter’s privilege based on the “freedom of the press” protection found in the First Amendment. The District Court held that petitioner had a First Amendment reporter’s privilege to protect her confidential sources and that she, as a “reporter” under the privilege, could claim this privilege. The Court of Appeals reversed the District Court, holding that petitioner could not claim the reporter’s privilege because such a privilege does not exist. For purposes of the tournament, the Supreme Court will decide two issues on appeal: 1) whether a First Amendment-based reporter’s privilege exists and 2) if a First Amendment-based reporter’s privilege does exist, whether petitioner qualifies as a “reporter” under the reporter’s privilege.

Registration

Click the button below to register for the competition only. If you wish to register for the VIP dinner, please use the link on your VIP invitation card or email.

Directions and Parking

Parking is available in the West Marian Way parking structure. Shuttle service will be provided to the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice.

Directions to the University of San Diego