Judges

Each year we are happy to welcome leading scholars, practitioners, and judges to the National Animal Law Competitions. We are honored to have them as our guest judges, and we are appreciative of them taking time out of their very busy schedules to participate.

Appellate Moot Court

 Final Round Judges

• The Honorable D. Brooks Smith, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• The Honorable Benita Y. Pearson, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
• Joyce Tischler, founder and general counsel, Animal Legal Defense Fund

Preliminary and Semi-Final Judges

• Lisa McCurdy, shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
• Russ Mead, general counsel, Animal Law Coalition
• The Honorable Patricia K. Norris, Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One
• Nicole Roth, contract attorney, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe; board member, Animal Legal Defense Fund
• Bruce Wagman, partner, Schiff Hardin LLP
• Matthew Liebman, senior attorney, Litigation Program, Animal Legal Defense Fund
• Sunny MacLachlan, clinical professor, director, Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution, John Marshall Law School
• David Cassuto, professor,director, Brazil - American Institute for Law and Environment, PACE Law School
• Tracy Miller, shareholder/attorney, Ogletree Deakins
• Jenni James, litigation fellow, Animal Legal Defense Fund
• Adam Diederich, associate, Schiff Hardin
• Molly Wiltshire, associate, Schiff Hardin
• Heather Neaveill-Kramer, attorney, Law Office of Heather Neaveill
• Angela Peters, attorney, Buffalo Grove Law Offices
• Lawrence M. Karlin, partner, Karlin Eide LLP

Closing Argument Competition

Preliminary & Final Round Judges:

• Diane Balkin, contract attorney, Criminal Justice Program, Animal Legal Defense Fund
• Josh Marquis, district attorney, Clatsop County
• Gavin Parsons, partner, Troutman Sanders
• Chris Green, director of legislative affairs, Animal Legal Defense Fund

Legislative Drafting & Lobbying Competition

• Chris Green, director of legislative affairs, Animal Legal Defense Fund
• Kara Holmquist, director of advocacy, Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Jessica Johnson, grassroots advocacy manager, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Cherie Travis, assistant general counsel, Cook County Sheriff’s Office