Best Briefs

1st Year Moot Court Best Briefs

Each year, each Legal Research and Writing faculty member submits one brief from her or his class to the St. Mary s Law Journal editorial board. The board selects one winner from each 1L section, resulting in four briefs which represent the best brief from that section. The editorial board then selects a “super brief” from amongst those winners, representing the best brief of the 1L class. Results are announced at the annual Law Journal banquet in April.

St. Mary's Law Journal would like to thank the institutions and individuals who sponsor these briefs: Bryan Jones in memory of Eric Riester, the Appellate Practice Section of the San Antonio Bar Association, Langley & Banack, and Laveta Casdorph.

2022 Winners

Gabriela Salinas, Best of Section A, Best Overall
Jacklyn Dhaemers, Best of Section B
Falak Momin, Best of Section C
Janell Thompson, Best of Section D

2021 Winners

Dave Gravely, Best of Section A
Gerardo Villegas-Juarez, Best of Section B
Julia Tillman, Best of Section C
Michael Tucker, Best of Section D, Best Overall
Amy Russo, Best of Section O

2020 Winners

Louisa Karam, Best of Section A
Julie Whitson, Best of Section B
Muniza Samiullah, Best of Section C
Mark Stevens, Best of Section D, Best Overall

2019 Winners

Melissa Fulmer, Best of Section A, Best Overall
Taylor J. Newman, Best of Section B
Tim Burton, Best of Section C
Kimberly Cruz, Best of Section D

2018 Winners

Aaron Diaz, Best of Section A, Best Overall
William Todd Keller, Best of Section B
Jeffrey Della Rocco, Best of Section C
Sara Beth Smith, Best of Section D

2017 Winners

Brittany Olsen, Best of Section A
Robert Biedrzycki, Best of Section B
Mary Kathryn Brown, Best of Section C
Cody Hearrell, Best of Section D, Best Overall

2016 Winners

Zoe Russell, Best of Section A
Daniela Mondragon, Best of Section B
Whitney Hill, Best of Section C
Scott Fee, Best of Section D, Best Overall

2015 Winners

Jesus Joslin, Best of Section A
Ana Zabalgoitia, Best of Section B
Devin deBruyn, Best of Section C, Best Overall
Cole Ruiz, Best of Section D

2014 Winners

Steven E. Gilmore, Best of Section A
Logan A. Wheeler, Best of Section B
Nadine Rodriguez, Best of Section C
Katie Neidig , Best of Section D, Best Overall

2013 Winners

James Alexander N. Smith, Best of Section A
Sarah E. Benavides, Best of Section B
Meagan McKeown, Best of Section C
Jennifer Neal Bruning, Best of Section D, Best Overall

2012 Winners

Taylor Pack Ellis, Best of Section A
Sidney Mandella, Best of Section B
Alyssa Saenz, Best of Section C, Best Overall
Kent Ninomiya, Best of Section D

2011 Winners

Stephanie Miller, Best of Section A, Best Overall
Lauren Valkenaar, Best of Section B
John Ellis, Best of Section C
Maria Flores, Best of Section D
Corey Stewart, Best of Section E

2010 Winners

Kellie Player, Best of Section A
Kristine Rodriguez, Best of Section B
Shari Mao, Best of Section C
Catherine McCartney, Best of Section D, Best Overall