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Burton Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition Draws 33 Law Schools Nationwide

Future Legal Minds Face Off Over First Amendment Freedoms

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Wechsler Moot Court Final Competition group photo.

Over the weekend, 33 teams from law schools across the country competed in the Burton Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition at American University Washington College of Law, arguing a challenging hypothetical case focused on the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment.

Hosted annually by the Washington College of Law Moot Court Honor Society, Burton Weschler First Amendment Moot Court Competition is a prestigious event that challenges law students to demonstrate their advocacy skills before distinguished members of the judiciary and legal academia.

2025 Burton Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition champions Rachel Medina (Left) and Phillip Ackermann (Center).
2025 Burton Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition champions Rachel Medina (Left) and Phillip Ackermann (Center).

In a competitive final round, Baylor University Law School’s Phillip Ackermann and Rachel Medina defeated Brigham Young University Law School’s Carson Lenox and Mason Pennock. Seton Hall Law School and Fordham Law School were recognized as runners-up in the competition.

Over the three-day competition, many AUWCL alumni returned to serve as judges, contributing their time and expertise. Faculty judges included Professors Jamie Abrams, Elizabeth Keith, Faraz Sanei, Jeffrey Lubbers, and Steve Wermiel. The panel of judges for the final round included Judge Timothy Dyk of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Judge Reggie Walton of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and Judge Loren AliKhan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

From left to right: Noor Chawla, Madyson Brown, Judge Timothy Dyk, Judge Loren AliKhan, Judge Reggie Walton, Jack Passero, and Jackson Newman.
From left to right: Noor Chawla, Madyson Brown, Judge Timothy Dyk, Judge Loren AliKhan, Judge Reggie Walton, Jack Passero, and Jackson Newman.

The competition was organized by Moot Court Honor Society co-directors Madyson Brown and Sara Scott, who spent months coordinating logistics and programming. They were supported by the Moot Court Honor Society leadership team, including Jack Passero, president; Noor Chawla, vice president; and Jackson Newman, executive tournament director. The moot court problem was drafted by Adjunct Professor Elizabeth Rylander, whose work provided the foundation for the rigorous legal arguments presented throughout the event.

Thank you to the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other volunteers that helped make this year’s Burton Weshler First Amendment Moot Court Competition a success. See more photos from the event here.