The Capitol City Challenge
On March 27-29, 2026, The American University, Washington College of Law's, Stephen S. Weinstein Advocacy Program and The Mock Trial Honor Society successfully hosted the Eighteenth Annual Capitol City Challenge Mock Trial Competition (CCC) - Code Blue at "The Gate." Stetson University College of Law won the competition, defeating the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in the final round, where the Honorable Judge Carlos F. Acosta, Associate Judge, Montgomery County Circuit Court and AUWCL Advocacy Program Adjunct Professor; the Honorable Judge Karen Ferretti, Associate Judge, District Court of Maryland Montgomery County and AUWCL Advocacy Program Adjunct Professor; and the Honorable Judge Laura Crane, Associate Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, presided.
Approximately 100 law students and coaches, from sixteen law schools from across the nation participated: Mercer University School of Law; Syracuse University College of Law; Cardozo School of Law; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Law; Chicago-Kent College of Law; Stetson University College of Law; Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University; Temple University Beasley School of Law; Regent University School of Law; Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law; UC-Davis School of Law; UC Law San Francisco; NYU School of Law; Harvard Law School; Howard University School of Law; and University of Michigan Law School.
The competition opened with our infamous Challenge Ceremony and was followed by six rounds of competition, all held at WCL. The following evening featured a fun-filled music and medicine themed banquet, awards ceremony and numerous prize giveaways for the competitors. Approximately 80 accomplished federal and state judges, prosecutors, public defenders, JAG attorneys, and private counsel served as evaluators for the competition. To see highlights from the weekend, watch the attached video.
2026 Competition Sponsored By:
Armstrong, Donohue, Ceppos, Vaughan & Rhoades, Chtd.
LexisNexis
2026 Results
Quarterfinalists:
Howard University School of Law
Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law
UC-Davis School of Law
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Law
Semifinalists:
Temple University Beasley School of Law
Regent University School of Law
Finalist:
Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
Champion:
Stetson University College of Law
Eugene N. Hamilton Best Advocate:
James Page, Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
