And the winner is...

The Center for Animal Law Studies held the 2009 National Animal Law Moot Court and Closing Argument Competition this past weekend at Harvard Law School. I am happy to report first-hand that the event was a terrific success!

This year's competition was the first time for the new formal partnership between Lewis & Clark Law School and the Animal Legal Defense Fund, under the leadership of CALS Director Pamela Frasch. Also putting in yeomans' efforts were ALDF staffers Laura Handzel, Liberty Mulkani and Pamela Alexander. Everything from the first round of competition to the banquet dinner to the presentation of the final award went seamlessly.

For the first time, three federal judges heard the final moot court rounds - thanks to Judge D. Brooks Smith of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Susan P. Graber of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Judge Lee H. Rosenthal of the Southern District of Texas for volunteering time out of your busy schedules to be part of this event.

This year was also another first - a tie for first place in the closing argument competition. The winners were Cheyne Adam and David Lipschutz, both of the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. The moot court winners were Michele Delappe and Nicholas Hudson from the University of Washington School of Law. Congratulations to all!