University at Buffalo (UB)
The State University
of New York
School of Law
How to Apply  Click this button to learn how to apply to the School of Law
Make a Gift  Click to read more about our Career Resources.

Advocacy Institute Contact

Contact: law-advocacy@buffalo.edu

Christine Bartholomew, Co-Director
Jennifer Scharf, Co-Director

Trial Advocacy
* Jennifer Scharf, Director

Appellate Advocacy
* Lucinda Finley, Director

Mediation
* Steven Sugarman, Director

Innocence and Justice Project
* Alexandra Harrington, Director

Make A Gift
Group of people in a courtroom, wearing suits, smiling for a photo. 2023 Desmond Competition First Row: Left to Right: Katherine Kio '25 & Tyler Myszka '25 (Winning Team), Victoria Heist '24 & Lexi Horton '24 (Runner-up Team), Haley Case '24, Buffalo Moot Court Board President Second Row: Left to Right: Prof. John Giammatteo; Prof. Lucinda M. Finley, Frank G. Raichle Professor of Trial and Appellate Advocacy; Director of Moot Courts, Sean C. Eldridge '10, U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office, WDNY

The Desmond Competition

For over three decades, this intramural competition gives participants the opportunity to argue a constitutional law case related to matters currently pending before the United States Supreme Court.

The Charles S. Desmond Moot Court Competition is the most prestigious appellate advocacy competition at the law school, attracting several local lawyers and judges to volunteer their time as judges.  Accomplished lawyers from Western New York and law school professors judge competitors’ oral arguments in the preliminary and semi-final rounds, while federal and state judges evaluate the finalists. Competitors also submit a written brief formatted using the rules to the United States Supreme Court.

Organized by the School of Law's Buffalo Moot Court Board, the Desmond competition is one of the most popular courtroom competitions the school offers. The competition is open to all second-and third-year law students annually.

2026 Competition Results

To Participate: Register Online.
Registration Deadline: Friday, September 11, 9:00 am.
Problem Release: Friday, September 11
Briefs Due: Friday, October 16, 9:00 p.m.

Competition Schedule: 

  • Preliminary Round 1A - Thursday, Nov. 5, 6:15 p.m.-7:45 p.m.
  • Preliminary Round 1B - Friday, Nov. 6, 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
  • Semi Finals - Saturday, Nov. 7, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
  • Final Round - Saturday, Nov. 7, 2:30p.m.-4:30 p.m.
  • Awards Ceremony - Saturday, Nov. 7, 4:45 p.m.

Buffalo Moot Court Board Leadership

President: Bella DeFeo
Vice President: Jenna Peinkofer
Treasurer: Scott Feighan
Public Relations Directors: Mary Claire Gallagher and Luke Bailey

Faculty Adviser: Prof. Lucinda Finley
Contact: law-bmcb@buffalo.edu
Find us in: BMCB Instagram, BMCB UBLinked, BMCB website