The New Mexico Court Of Appeals Oral Advocacy Tournament

In addition to mandatory appellate oral arguments in the first year Advocacy course, students have the opportunity to enter the New Mexico Court of Appeals Appellate Advocacy Tournament. This tournament is for first year students only. Students argue their Advocacy appellate brief problem in a single round elimination tournament; students argue both sides of the issue as they advance toward the final round in which winners are announced. Judges for many early rounds of the tournament as well as the final round include members of the New Mexico Appellate Judiciary.

Tournament Winners

1996 – Brian Matise
1997 – Farzana Kanji
1998 – Kimberly Bell
1999 – Carlos Obrey Espinosa
2000 – Jennifer Romero-Martinez
2001 – Spring Webb
2002 – Helen Hecht
2003 – Brian Egolf
2004 – Timothy Atler
2005 – Nikko Harrada
2006 – Samantha Ruscavage-Barz and Robert Lucero
2007 – Justin A. Gonzalez
2008 – Maggie Murray
2009 – D'Ontae D. Sylvertooth
2010 – Frank Davis
2011– Joshua Curtis