APPELLATE ADVOCACY PROGRAM
Judge Information Page
Welcome to Vermont Law & Graduate School’s Appellate Advocacy page!
Appellate Advocacy is an upper-level writing course students take in the summer or fall of their second year at VLGS. In this course, students practice advanced advocacy techniques through drafting a U.S. Supreme Court brief and presenting oral argument before a panel of volunteer judges.
Use the form below to volunteer as a judge for student arguments. You may pick the date and time you judge, as well as the case you will hear argued. In Vermont, attorneys can receive two general MCLE credits for judging.
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SUMMER 2026 CASES AND DATES
St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy:
In 2021, the Colorado General Assembly enacted an ambitious program providing universal preschool free of charge for all children in the state. To participate in the program, preschools must agree to enroll children regardless of the students’ or parents’ sexual orientation and gender identity. The Archdiocese of Denver operates thirty-six Catholic preschools in Colorado. It refused to agree to the nondiscrimination requirement. The Archdiocese and several Catholic preschools sued the state, arguing the nondiscrimination requirement violates their rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. This case will determine whether a school-funding program with a nondiscrimination requirement, which applies to all preschools seeking funding, nevertheless violates the Free Exercise Clause.
Suncor Energy Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder County:
This case asks whether the Clean Air Act preempts state tort claims, where plaintiffs do not ask for a change in emissions standards or an injunction but instead seek only compensation for the costs of mitigating climate change. The City and County of Boulder, Colorado, brought this action against Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil, seeking damages for public and private nuisance, trespass, unjust enrichment, and civil conspiracy. The local governments argue defendants intentionally misrepresented and failed to disclose material information concerning fossil fuel related harm. The energy companies argue this claim is preempted by the Clean Air Act, under a field and conflict preemption theory. A handful of state and federal courts have considered this issue, creating a split that the U.S. Supreme Court will now resolve.
Case Dates: 7/23, 7/24, 7/25
Judge Sign-up Form
Please enter your contact information and the dates and times you plan to judge on the form below. Each two-hour date/time block includes two arguments, for a total of four students, except the July 24th date, which is for three hours and 6 students.
Please contact Claire Andrews at [email protected] if you have questions or need more information.
(green background = required field)
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