Baldree and Rowley Claim Victory in Baylor Law School’s 2024 Dawson & Sodd Moot Court Competition
On Monday, September 30, Baylor Law School celebrated the conclusion of the 2024 Dawson & Sodd PLLC Moot Court Competition, where the finalists, Lauren Monroe and Grace Neale, representing the Petitioner, faced off against Respondents Cagan Baldree and Michael Rowley in the Rex Houston Practice Court Classroom. After an engaging final round, Baldree and Rowley were announced as the winners of this year’s competition. Semi-finalist honors went to the teams of Pablo Boada and Daniel Turnbull, and Yousef Hashmi and Jake Kahla.
On September 16, sixteen two-person teams began the competition, simulating an argument before the Texas Supreme Court. After four preliminary rounds of oral arguments, only the top six teams advanced to the post-break, single-elimination rounds that started on Monday, September 23.
For both Baldree and Rowley, winning the competition was a testament to their skills and a culmination of hard work and collaboration. “I’m thankful, really appreciative of Michael and the work that he put in as a partner” Baldree shared. “It was a really, really good competition, and we grew a lot. We learned a lot through it. This is the type of thing I wanted to do by coming to law school, so it’s a privilege to come out on top, and I’m just really thankful for the opportunity.”
Rowley echoed his partner’s sentiments, expressing gratitude for the experience and high competition they faced. “We went against a lot of really good teams,” he noted. “I’m grateful to Cagan—he’s a very hard worker and an awesome partner. It was really a cool experience, too.”
Looking ahead to their legal careers, both winners are exploring their paths within civil law. Baldree, who has developed an interest in property law and oil and gas law, hopes to work in the courtroom. Rowley, initially considering a career in transactional law, has since found a passion for trial work, particularly in real estate law.
This year’s case, which centered on a Texas law issue of bystander recovery for negligent infliction of emotional distress, presented a pointedly emotional scenario: whether an engaged man arriving at the scene of an accident involving his fiancée could qualify as a bystander under Texas law. Competitors were tasked with presenting their legal arguments while balancing the emotional aspects of the case, requiring both a strong understanding of the law and careful articulation of the issues involved.
The final round was judged by Professors Underwood, Tilly, White, Tang, and Alpert, alongside the Spring 2024 Faegre Drinker Moot Court Competition winners Kaia-Marie Helmer and Kate Sparks. The judges asked pointed questions, requiring the finalists to defend their arguments with clarity and precision.
Several competitors received recognition for their oral advocacy during the preliminary rounds. Lauren Monroe was named the top speaker, followed by Michael Rowley in second place and Caroline Bizzaro in third. The remaining top ten speakers were Cagan Baldree, Aliyah Khan, Tom Malaspina, Jared Miller, Grace Neale, Daniel Turnbull, and Callum Wright. These speakers and the members of the six post-break teams have been named Barristers, an honorific given to Baylor Law School students for their advocacy skills.
Pablo Boada was recognized for his professionalism in volunteering to join the competition to ensure that all teams were represented by two members.
The event was organized and run by Harvey M. Richey Moot Court officers Allie Barnett, Nathan Dasilva, Marco Pena, David Sandler, and Hannah Sull, whose efforts ensured a smooth competition from start to finish.
Professor Mike Berry, the faculty advisor to the Moot Court Society, remarked, “All of this year’s participants exhibited an extraordinary level of preparation and commitment throughout the competition. I am always inspired when I see how our students rise to the challenge; this competition was no exception.”
The Dawson & Sodd PLLC Moot Court Competition is integral to Baylor Law School’s challenging LARC 3: Persuasive Communications class. Sponsored by the Dawson & Sodd law firm, the competition carries on the legacy of Baylor Lawyers Matt “Mad Dog” Dawson (JD ‘38) and Glenn Sodd (JD ‘72). Dawson’s legendary contributions to Baylor Law’s Practice Court and Sodd’s reputation as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers serve as a testament to the enduring legacy of this competition.
