Winners of The John W. Davis Moot Court Competition

John W. Davis, 1892, 1895L, a distinguished politician, diplomat, and attorney, was renowned for both his advocacy skills and public service.   He taught at the Washington and Lee School of Law for three years, practiced law in Clarksburg, West Virginia from 1897-1913, and served as a U.S. Congressman from 1911-13. He served as Solicitor General of the United States from 1913-1918 and as Ambassador to the Court of St. James from 1918-1921.  When he returned from London, Davis became the head of the prominent New York law firm of Davis, Polk and Wardwell.  He rejected an appointment to the Supreme Court by President Warren Harding in 1922, choosing instead to continue practicing before it.  He received the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in 1924, losing to Calvin Coolidge.  Davis then left the political arena and spent the remainder of his life devoted to private practice.

Davis argued before the Court 139 times, at the time a twentieth century record.  Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, who sat on the Supreme Court for thirty years, said that no attorney was "more elegant, more clear, more concise, or more logical" than Davis.

The John W. Davis Moot Court Competition Winners

Best Oralist

1980                Shawn P. George

1981                Christopher T.  Hale

1982                Stephen G. Schweller

1983                William P. "Chip" Johnson

1984                Robert W. Ray

Robert W. Ray, '85L, argued before a panel that included Justice Scalia, then Judge Scalia, to win the '84 Davis Competition.  Mr. Ray served as the head of the Office of the Independent Counsel from 1999-2002.

1985                Hyla Flaks

1986                John P. Vita

1987                Darrin L. McCullough

1988                Nanette K. Dory

1989                M. Dale Phelps

1990                Elizabeth L. Ewert

1991                G. Douglas Kilday

1992                Chris K. Kowalczuk

1993                Charles M. Smith

1994                Chanda R. Coblentz

1995                Courtney C. Camp

1996                Jennifer D. Lynch

1997                Gary P. Seligman

1998                Matthew C. Smith

1999                Anne K. Guillory

2000                Amara S. Chaudhry

2001                Damien P. Delaney

2002                Amir M. Sadeghy

2003                L’Shauntee J. Robertson

2004                Cavelle C. R. Johnston

2005                William J. O’Brien

2006                Kristina J. Longo                       

2007                Arif S. Noorani

2008                Victoria V. Corder

2009                Michael P. Gardner

2010                Suzanne E. Peters

Suzanne Peters and runner-up Jake Triolo await the 2010 Davis Finals' results.

2011                David L. Miller

2012                D. Rockwell Bower

Best Brief

1980                Shawn P. George & Michael E. Bongiorno

1981                Leslie A. Goller & C. Jay Robbins

1982                Dave H. Fletcher & W.Kent Ihrig

1983                Charles F. Martel & Bradley A. Norton

1984                Alice J. Sachs & Peter A. Baumgaertner

1985                Hyla Flaks & Ann K. Wilkinson

1986                Tracie A. Grove & Robyn L. Aversa

1987                M. Tim Porterfield & Robert A. Bullivant

1988                Paul D. D'Amato & Russell L. London

1989                J. Mark McPherson & J. Matthew Anthony

1990                Lori A. Phelps & Rebecca A. Graves

1991                Kevin C. Nicholas

1992                Chris K. Kowalczuk

1993                Randal S. Noe

1994                Eric T. Chaffin

1995                Charles V. Mehler III

1996                Melissa A. Morris

1997                Gary P. Seligman

1998                J. Duncan Pitchford

1999                I. Camille Turner

2000                Ryan A. Becker

2001                Frank B. Ulmer

2002                Michael M. Adamson

2003                Susan K. Richter

2004                Lindsay H. Rubel

2005                Joanna C. Dubus

2006                Nicholas D. Brauns & Marie A. Trimble

2007                Jessica R. Berenyi & Anna Ku

2008                Elizabeth E. Clarke & Stephanie R. Hager

2009                Kiyomi D. Bolick & Marti J. McCaleb

2010                Meghan E. Monaghan & Maryl C. Sattler

2011                T. Peter Choi & Nathan M. Jensen

2012                Claire M. Hagan & Scott M. Weingart