State Supreme Court Justices to Judge Linden Cup Finals

Finalist Matthew Ishihara speaks with State Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary E. Fairhurst at the conclusion of the 2017 Linden Cup. (GU photo by Libby Kamrowski)
April 09, 2018

(Above) Finalist Matthew Ishihara speaks with Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary E. Fairhurst at the conclusion of the 2017 Linden Cup. (GU photo by Libby Kamrowski) 

Gonzaga News Service

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Gonzaga University School of Law's annual Linden Cup mock trial competition begins today and the final round will be judged by Washington State Supreme Court Justices Steven C. González and Susan Owens, and Idaho Supreme Court Justice G. Richard Bevan.

"We are once again thrilled to have prominent figures from the legal community judge our competition," said Sandra Simpson, associate professor of law and Linden Cup faculty adviser. "Their attendance adds tremendous value to our competitors' experience." 

Linden Cup is a student-run, mock oral appellate advocacy competition in which Gonzaga Law students, working in pairs, research an assigned problem and then prepare and present an oral argument before mock tribunals. During the preliminary rounds, each team presents at least two oral arguments, arguing the case at least once from each side. 

The quarterfinal round will take place on Wednesday, April 11, the semifinals are on April 12, and the final round -- which is free and open to the public -- will run from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Saturday, April 14. The competition will take place in the Law School's Barbieri Courtroom.

After conclusion of oral arguments, competition finalists will spend the lunch hour with the justices -- a hallmark of the Linden Cup and a rare opportunity for law students to visit with the justices.  

"I always look forward to Linden Cup," Justice Owens says, "because the efforts of the students exhibit great scholarship and enthusiasm."

Linden Cup is named in honor of Father James Linden, S.J., whose astute mind and gentle personality were a gift to Gonzaga students for nearly 30 years in the study of law. His interest in the students as individuals is manifested by his founding of Heidelberg Night and this moot court competition, which is presented by the Linden Cup Committee and the Gonzaga Law School Moot Court Council.

For more information, please contact Kevin Carr, marketing manager for Gonzaga Law, at (509) 464 9901.