Baylor Law Takes the Crown at ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition

The Baylor Law Advocacy Team of (L-R) Team Bailiff Michael Tagliabue, Tiffani Skroch, and Dandee Cabanay at the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition in April 2023

WACO -

Baylor Law has again demonstrated its excellence in appellate advocacy with a resounding victory at the American Bar Association (ABA) National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC). Tiffani Skroch and Dandee Cabanay, along with their brief co-writer Andrew Boone, emerged as the champions of the largest moot court competition in the country. Skroch was also recognized as the Best Advocate of the competition, while the team’s brief was ranked as the 4th best. A Baylor Law advocacy team last won this competition in 2019.

Brief co-writer Andrew Boone

The competition is widely considered the most challenging moot court competition in the country. Nearly two hundred law school teams competed for three weeks in six regional tournaments of the ABA NAAC earlier this year. Tiffani, Dandee, and Andrew were undefeated in the Los Angeles Regional, qualifying to compete in the National Finals held at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, DC, on April 13-15, 2023.

Professor of Law Brian Serr coached the team. Three other team members, Michael Tagliabue, Catherine McKinney, and Emily Duckworth aided in preparing the team for the National Finals. Tagliabue also accompanied the team to Washington D.C., serving as the team’s bailiff.

"We are remarkably proud of Tiffani, Dandee, and Andrew for their outstanding performance at the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition," said Baylor Law's Dean Brad Toben. "Their success is a direct result of their hard work, competitive spirit, and talent. Congratulations to them, and to their coach, Prof. Brian Serr, on this hard-earned and well-deserved victory!"

The National Appellate Advocacy Competition pits law students from around the country against each other in a simulated appeal to the United States Supreme Court, where they are required first to write a brief and then orally argue the case to a panel of judges. This year’s problem focused on the tension between recent Supreme Court opinions and academic freedom under the First Amendment.

Tiffani and Dandee’s march to the National Championship consisted of 11 total oral arguments, five at Regionals and six at Nationals, all of them ending in victories.

Aiding the team in preparing for the American Bar Association (ABA) National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) (L-R) Emily Duckworth, Catherine McKinney, and Michael Tagliabue

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Established in 1857, Baylor University School of Law is the oldest law school in Texas and one of the first west of the Mississippi River. It is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. With one of the lowest student-faculty ratios in the country, Baylor Law has a record of producing outstanding lawyers, many of whom decide upon a career in public service. Today the school has more than 7,800 living alumni and is proud alma mater to two governors, members or former members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, two former directors of the FBI, U.S. ambassadors, federal judges, justices of the Texas Supreme Court, and members of the Texas Legislature. In its law specialties rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranks Baylor Law’s trial advocacy program #2 in the nation. The National Jurist ranks Baylor Law as one of the "Best Schools for Practical Training," and one of the "Best Law School Facilities.” Committed to service, Baylor Law students consistently maintain one of the highest Pro Bono, public service, and community volunteerism rates in the nation and Baylor Law has received the prestigious Pro Bono Publico Award from the American Bar Association. Learn more at baylor.edu/law

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