Dogs beat Gators again, this time in court

The University of Georgia School of Law recently defeated the University of Florida School of Law in the Florida/Georgia-Hulsey/Gambrell Moot Court Competition in Jacksonville, Florida.

Formerly known as the Hulsey-Kimbrell Moot Court Competition, this contest is traditionally held at the end of October on the eve of the Georgia-Florida football game. Two law students from each school compete as lawyers in a mock appellate case, and the victors in the case earn bragging rights and the championship trophy to keep at their law school for the year.

Representing the School of Law in the moot court competition were third-year law students Jennifer Cotton and Miles Skedsvold. This year's win adds to UGA's outstanding performances bringing its tournament record to 23-11-2.

"I am extremely proud of our students' hard work in continuing our success in this competition," School of Law Director of Advocacy Kellie Casey said. "A win against Florida is always a great way to start off our advocacy season. This important victory falls on the heels of strong finishes in the Palmetto State Classic Mock Trial, the Civil Rights and Liberties Moot Court and the Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court competitions."

This year’s judges were Senior U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. and U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood from the state of Georgia, and Senior U.S. District Court Judges William T. Hodges and Harvey Schlesinger and U.S. District Court Judge Marcia Morales Howard from the state of Florida.

This competition started more than 35 years ago when Mark Hulsey, a partner with the Jacksonville law firm Smith Hulsey & Busey and a UF graduate, and Charlie Kimbrell, a lawyer practicing in Miami who was a UGA graduate, agreed to co-sponsor the event. Both original founders have since passed away, but their legacy lives on. Today, Smith Hulsey & Busey and the law firm Smith, Gambrell & Russell – which has offices in Atlanta and Jacksonville among other locations – support this annual courtroom contest.