FSU Law celebrates 40 years of Moot Court Final Four at the Florida Supreme Court

Four Florida State University College of Law students will continue the tradition of getting to argue before the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday, Nov. 4, as the college celebrates the 40th anniversary of its Moot Court Final Four Competition. 

Beginning at 3:30 p.m., second-year law students Nathaniel Birdsong, Warren Robison, Serena Saul and Madison Smith will present oral arguments before the Justices of Florida’s highest court. A reception will follow in the College of Law’s D’Alemberte Rotunda. The competition will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.  

Established in 1986 through the vision of Professor William VanDercreek, Final Four has given generations of FSU Law students an opportunity to test their advocacy skills before the state Supreme Court while still in law school. The annual event is a distinctive FSU Law tradition and reflects the opportunities available to students attending law school in Florida’s capital, directly across the street from the Florida Supreme Court. 

“For 40 years, Final Four has given our students an extraordinary opportunity to put their preparation into practice,” said Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the FSU College of Law. “We are grateful to the Justices for investing their time in our students and to the faculty, alumni and coaches who help them reach this moment.”

“For 40 years, Final Four has given our students an extraordinary opportunity to put their preparation into practice. We are grateful to the Justices for investing their time in our students and to the faculty, alumni and coaches who help them reach this moment.”  

– Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the FSU College of Law

The finalists qualified through the college’s spring intramural moot court competition, which also serves as the selection process for new Moot Court Team members. Participants submit written briefs and complete three rounds of oral arguments. The four highest-scoring oral advocates in the final round advance to the Final Four the following fall, where they compete for the Best Oralist Award. 

That preparation requires students to develop a thorough understanding of the legal issues, anticipate opposing arguments and respond directly to questions from the bench. 

“A strong oral advocate must do more than know a prepared argument,” said Nat Stern, professor emeritus and former faculty advisor and coach to the Moot Court Team. “Students must listen carefully, recognize the concern behind a judge’s question and respond with clarity and candor. Final Four challenges them to bring those skills together in a setting they will remember throughout their careers.” 

Stern began serving as the team’s faculty advisor in 1993 and guided student advocates for more than three decades. Legal Writing Professor Courtney Brewer, who became faculty advisor in May 2025, now leads the team’s preparation for competitions and coordinates coaching and other support for its members. Assistant Dean for Academic Success Laura Dennis serves as associate faculty advisor. 

“We are grateful to Courtney and Laura for their leadership and dedication to our students,” O’Connor said. “We also celebrate Nat’s extraordinary legacy of mentorship. His work over more than three decades helped generations of students develop as advocates and contributed enormously to the Moot Court Team’s success.” 

Final Four’s 40th anniversary marks a milestone within a broader advocacy tradition. Founded in 1968, the FSU Law Moot Court Team competes against other law schools in regional, national and international appellate advocacy competitions. Final Four is the college’s annual showcase featuring the top four oral advocates from its spring intramural competition. 

The broader Moot Court experience combines legal research, appellate brief writing and oral advocacy across subjects ranging from constitutional and criminal law to intellectual property and environmental law. Faculty members, former Final Four competitors and attorneys from the legal community serve as coaches, helping students refine their arguments through practice and feedback. 

The Nov. 4 event offers the FSU Law community an opportunity to support this year’s finalists and recognize the Court, Justices, faculty and coaches who have made this tradition possible. Oral arguments will take place at the Florida Supreme Court, 500 S. Duval St.  

Visit the FSU Law moot court website to learn more or watch the livestream. 

Advertisement