I usually use this space to reflect on the week just behind us. This week, I’m going to look back a little further—because something truly special deserves a second look.
Two weeks ago, CSU Law’s Moot Court Team hosted the inaugural Rock & Roll Moot Court Festival, the first and only moot court competition in the country devoted entirely to the music industry.
From the moment teams arrived, it was clear this was no ordinary competition. Teams competed under band names like The Rolling SCOTUS and Earth, Wind, and Judgment. Awards took the form of gold and platinum records. Competitors gathered for a reception at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, where CSU|Law alumna, faculty member, and Grammy Award–winning pianist Dr. Angelin Chang '08 delivered an inspiring keynote that captured the intersection of law, music, and professional purpose.
What made the weekend especially powerful, though, was the people behind it.
The competition was built from the ground up by our Moot Court Team and its leadership—Chair Serena Sammarone and Vice Chairs Anna Egensperger and Annaliese Nunes—who brought professionalism, creativity, and determination to every detail, even in the face of a major snowstorm.
We are also deeply grateful to our alumni advisors Kyle Hutnick '16 and Billy Killmeyer '20, and to Grayson Sieg '15, who developed the competition problem from scratch. Brittany Mallow '19 and Mandi Schenley '22 coached CSU Law teams that competed in the event, volunteer work that involves countless hours of working one-on-one with the teams before competition.
The level of alumni and legal community engagement was remarkable: each brief was reviewed by an average of twelve graders, every round featured three judges, and the final round—between Southern Illinois University and Duquesne University—was judged by Justice Melody J. Stewart '88, Justice Michael P. Donnelly '91, and IP attorney Ross Kowalski.
We are also thankful for the generous support of our sponsors, including Tucker Ellis LLP, Thompson Hine LLP, Reminger Co., LPA, Weston Hurd, and DWORKEN & BERNSTEIN CO., L.P.A., whose partnership helped make this bold idea a national-caliber success.
This weekend was a powerful reminder of what makes CSU Law special: students who lead, alumni who show up, and a legal community willing to support innovation done well. The Rock & Roll Moot Court Festival has set a high bar, and we can’t wait to see it return next year.
Warmly,
Carolyn