Linden Cup

An Appellate Advocacy Competition

Linden Cup is an appellate advocacy competition among Gonzaga law students. Linden Cup takes place during the spring semester and is integrated with Legal Research and Writing IV.

NOTE: Students sign up through the course registration process by enrolling in one of the Legal Research and Writing IV sections designated as a Linden Cup section.

What to Expect

• Briefs are due in late February and the oral arguments begin in mid-March.
• The competition is open to second and third-year students.
• Students who want to get a taste of appellate advocacy in a formal setting (including first year students), are encouraged to serve on the Moot Court Council or as bailiffs during the competitions.

At the Competition

• Working in pairs, participating students write appellate briefs and then present oral arguments before mock appellate tribunals.
• The briefs are graded by Legal Research and Writing faculty members prior to the oral rounds.
• In the oral arguments, students are judged on their forensic performance, including their success in answering questions, their conviction, their knowledge of the record, issues and law, and their courtroom demeanor.
• The panels of judges in the early rounds are composed of faculty and local attorneys.
• Superior Court judges officiate in the quarter and semi-finals.
• State Supreme Court justices officiate in the final round.