University of Georgia law students triumph over their University of Florida peers in 2024
The Florida-Georgia / Hulsey-Gambrell Moot Court Competition returned for its 44th year on Nov. 1 at the Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse in Jacksonville.
An annual staple in the Jacksonville legal community, the event puts law students from the University of Florida and the University of Georgia to the test as they face off in the courtroom on the eve of the Florida-Georgia football game. This year, the Georgia Bulldogs claimed the moot court trophy ? and their football team followed suit on the field.
This brings the tournament record to 27 wins for Georgia, 12 wins for Florida and five ties. UGA students will keep the championship trophy at their law school for the year.
The judges who took part in this year?s competition included:
- Chief U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker of the Southern District of Georgia
- Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan of the Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger of the Middle District of Florida
- Fifth District Court of Appeal Judge Harvey L. Jay in Florida
- U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood of the Southern District of Georgia
Students Natalya Moody and Paige Batten made the oral arguments for the University of Georgia, which represented the respondent in an appeal over a fictitious explosion at the South Texas State Capitol building. The appeal questioned whether evidence derived from a geofence warrant violated the appellant?s Fourth Amendment rights. William Hoffman and Kourtney Booster of the University of Florida represented the U.S. government, which accused the respondent of carrying out the bombing.
Each year, law firms Smith Hulsey & Busey and Smith, Gambrell & Russell sponsor the event in memory of the late Smith Hulsey partner Mark Hulsey and the late Smith Gambrell founding partner E. Smythe Gambrell. Gambrell was president of the American Bar Association and the American Bar Foundation. Hulsey served as president of The Florida Bar and the Jacksonville Bar Association. Both were distinguished lawyers and influential leaders in their communities.
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