The Capitol City Challenge
On March 21 – 23, 2025, the American University Washington College of Law, Stephen S. Weinstein Advocacy Program and the American University Washington College of Law Mock Trial Honor Society successfully hosted the 17th Annual Capitol City Challenge Mock Trial Competition. The University of Michigan Law School won the competition, defeating Stetson University College of Law in the final round, where the Honorable Anita Josey-Herring, Associate Judge and immediate past Chief Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, the Honorable Robert J. Hildum, Magistrate Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and the Honorable William A. Snoddy, Associate Judge, Circuit Court for Prince George's County, 7th Judicial Circuit and AUWCL Advocacy Program Adjunct Professor, presided.
Approximately 100 law students and coaches from fourteen law schools from across the nation participated: Mercer University School of Law, Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law, Stetson University College of Law, Brooklyn Law School, Temple University Beasley School of Law, Campbell Law School, Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law, The George Washington University Law School, University of North Carolina School of Law, South Texas College of Law Houston, Georgetown University Law Center, Howard University School of Law, and the University of Michigan Law School.
The competition opened with a Cherry Blossom Festival-themed brunch, with a very special welcome message from Interim Dean Heather Hughes and our infamous “Challenge Ceremony” followed by six rounds of competition, all held at AUWCL. Saturday evening featured a fun-filled casino-themed banquet, awards ceremony, and numerous prize giveaways for the competitors. Approximately 85 accomplished federal and state judges, prosecutors, public defenders, JAG attorneys, and private counsel served as evaluators for the competition.
2025 Competition Sponsored By:
Potomac Law Group
The Law Offices of Gerald A. Schwartz
Armstrong, Donohue, Ceppos, Vaughan & Rhoades
LexisNexis
2025 RESULTS
QUARTERFINALISTS:
- Howard University School of Law
- Temple University Beasley School of Law
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law
- University of North Carolina School of Law
SEMIFINALISTS:
- Georgetown University Law Center
- Mercer University School of Law
FINALIST:
- Stetson University College of Law
CHAMPION:
- University of Michigan School of Law
EUGENE N. HAMILTON BEST ADVOCATE:
- Scott Santaella, Georgetown University Law Center
Watch the Championship Round! (coming soon!)
