Tuesday, April 7, 2026

By Micah Gilmer, School of Law Public Affairs Office

On Saturday, March 28, four first-year Liberty Law students competed for the top spot in the Twenty-Second Annual George and Helen Hermestroff 1L Moot Court Tournament.

The tournament finale, which was held in Liberty Law’s Supreme Courtroom, came to a close after a weeklong competition between the entire class of 2028.

With 125 students in the 1L class, this was the largest 1L tournament in Liberty Law history. The Supreme Courtroom held a packed and captive audience of students, faculty, staff, and Liberty Law’s Admitted Students Weekend participants.

The four finalists, Gabe Sanzo, Kara Conrad, Jacob Slusser, and Jacob Elliott presented their arguments in front of a panel of nine judges from across the country, listed here:

  • The Honorable C. Joseph Boatwright of Florida’s 5th District Court of Appeals
  • The Honorable Joseph Dawson of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
  • The Honorable Thomas Ewing of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
  • The Honorable Joseph Getty of the Maryland Supreme Court
  • The Honorable Corey Moon of Missouri’s 2nd Judicial Circuit
  • The Honorable Shea Nickell of the Kentucky Supreme Court
  • The Honorable Will Roach of the Court of General Sessions in Jefferson County, Tennessee
  • The Honorable Joseph Teefey of Virginia’s 11th Judicial Circuit
  • The Honorable Fred Watson of Virginia’s 24th Judicial Circuit

Each student was given 15 minutes to present his or her case. The proceedings revolved around a hypothetical case, Suzie Starnes v. Fireworks, Inc. The mock case detailed a bakery owner named Suzie Starnes who sued the Chinese company Fireworks, Inc., over a loss in sales due to firework performance. Subsequently, Fireworks, Inc., filed a Motion to Dismiss because its product was not marketed in the state where Starnes filed the suit.

Mr. Sanzo and Ms. Conrad argued on behalf of Ms. Starnes, while Mr. Slusser and Mr. Elliott defended Fireworks, Inc. Each student fielded questions from the judges — questions ranging from improper firework specifications to state jurisdiction to implied warranties. After the 1Ls delivered their oral arguments, the judges scored each competitor and provided their concluding thoughts on the students’ abilities and how they showcased Liberty Law’s academic rigor for its students.

Director of the Center for Lawyering Skills Scott Thompson coaches Liberty Law’s moot court teams and heads the 1L tournament each year. “(The finalists) handled a hot bench that asked some very challenging questions with poise and grace,” Thompson said. “They continued a long tradition of excellence in oral advocacy that the 1L tournament final round is known for.” Several judges were also quick to note the students’ quick-thinking, undivided attention, and respectful conduct to be comparable to that of experienced lawyers.

Pictured left to right: Jacob Elliot and Professor Scott Thompson (Photo by: Jessie Jordan)

“The 1L Moot Court Tournament was spectacular,” Liberty Law Dean Timothy Todd said following the event. “Our four finalists crushed it! They truly represented Liberty Law exceedingly well!”

Mr. Elliott, after an eloquent delivery and impressive argument on behalf of Ms. Starnes, clinched the tournament victory, and Mr. Sanzo’s thorough defense of Fireworks, Inc., and oral skills earned him the spot of runner-up.

For more information about Liberty Law’s moot court program, please visit our website.