UK Rosenberg College of Law and Berea College Co-Host Second National Series Tournament

Undergraduate students from 17 universities convened at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law on Saturday, Jan. 25, and Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, for the American Moot Court Association Bluegrass National Series Tournament, co-hosted with Berea College.

This was the third competition, and second national series tournament, co-hosted by UK Rosenberg Law and Berea College. In 2022, the colleges co-hosted the Bluegrass Regional Undergraduate Moot Court Tournament, a qualifier for the national tournament of the AMCA. In 2024, because of the success of the regional tournament, the colleges co-hosted one of the national series of tournaments leading to the crowning of the annual champions.

More than 60 undergraduate students on 32 teams from across the country competed in this year's national series round in Lexington, Kentucky. The universities represented included Bentley University, Boston University, California State University Fullerton, California State University Long Beach, College of the Holy Cross, Eastern Michigan University, Georgetown University, Liberty University, Loyola University Chicago, Macalester College, Patrick Henry College, The University of Chicago, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, William & Mary, Williams College, and Yale University.

Local attorneys, including many UK Rosenberg Law alumni, volunteered to serve as “justices” for each round of the tournament. Current law students volunteered to serve as bailiffs.

AMCA officials and Berea College student volunteers helped UK Rosenberg Law staff facilitate the tournament. Dan Huck, professor of Law, Ethics and Society at Berea College, served as the tournament director.

“This year’s tournament was once again a great success thanks to the team we have established between Berea and Rosenberg Law. Coaches, students, and national association representatives consistently praise our event as one of the best in the country, and we owe that recognition to strong participation from the local legal practice community and the UK law alumni base,” Huck said.

The competitions required utilizing every classroom throughout the law building, with the final round being held in the G. Chad Perry III Grand Courtroom. William Mahoney and Kaylee Pierre of Yale University took home the first-place trophy. The runners-up were Samhita Kumar and Miles Kirkpatrick, also from Yale University.

“We’re grateful for the hosts and the judges, especially,” Mahoney said. “I ran a tournament at our school, and I know how hard it is to get judges, and judges are really the core of the tournament, and so we’re just really thankful for them.” 

Pierre said she also had a great time during the tournament and appreciated the excellent facilities in the law building as well as her positive interactions with the volunteers and other competitors.

“You all worked hard to get here, and that's obvious,” said UK Rosenberg Law Professor Laken Albrink, who volunteered as a justice, to the final round competitors. “Great job all around.”

The top eight teams advanced from Lexington to the final round tournament of the AMCA’s national series. 

 “If you choose to go into the profession, the profession will be better off with you,” said Fayette District Judge Denotra Spruill Gunther, who also served as a justice for the final round.

UK Rosenberg Law Alumnus Bruce Singleton, a volunteer justice, and his wife, Pegi, of Somerset donated robes this year for the justices to wear who served in the final round. 

 “You all did a terrific job,” UK Rosenberg Law Acting Dean Paul E. Salamanca, who served as chief justice in the final round, told the final four competitors. He reminded the students that oral arguments are a conversation between them and the bench and offered advice about how to prepare for oral arguments.

Volunteer Judges:

Laken Albrink
Kimberly Baird
Joseph Bowman
Jamila Carter
Wayne Collier
Ryan Cook
Harry Dadds
William Davis
Cory Dodds
Dave Emerson
Mary Beth Forester
Al Grasch
Marian Hayden
Cael Henshaw
Cary Howard
Dana Howard
Ellen Kennedy
Kara Legg
Brandon Lira
William Mann
Arnetta McClary
John McNeill
Nolan McWilliams
David Newton
James Noll
Kevin Palley
Yesel Rodriguez
David Royce
Paul Salamanca
Gracie Sandlin
Abby Schueler
Emily Shepherd
Bruce Singleton
Denotra Spruill-Gunther
Jim Thomerson
Judge Wilson
Macy Young

Volunteer Bailiffs:

Robbie Desper
Toby Giganti
MaKayla Harris
Fatime Kerelaj
Michael Kern
John Lambert
Tina Ly
Brynne McKinsey
Kody Lynn Morgan
Lauren Repa
Jodon Sargent
Benjamin Scott
Kilian Southworth
Garrett Tice
Genevieve White