Esther Clark Competition
The Moot Court Board organizes and administers the annual intra-scholastic Esther Clark Moot Court Competition. Second-year Moot Court Board members compete in the Esther Clark Competition to maintain their position on the Moot Court Board. The Esther Clark Competition requires advocates to author an appellate brief and compete in a series of arguments against their fellow second-year Moot Court Board members. The final round of the Esther Clark Competition is argued before the justices of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, who ultimately decide the winner.
27th Annual Esther Clark Competition
Photos from the 27th Annual Esther Clark Competition Finals, held at the Rhode Island Supreme Court on October 27, 2022.
27th Annual Competition Winners
About Esther Clark
Click to OpenThe Esther Clark Competition is named after a
deceased RWU Law professor, who joined Roger Williams Law faculty during its second year and taught Criminal Procedure and Evidence. Professor Clark's impact on students went well beyond the classroom. Students voted Professor Clark “outstanding faculty member of the year” five times throughout her teaching career at Roger Williams. She believed that teaching was a twenty-four hour a day passion that went well beyond when students graduated. Professor Clark continued to assist her students after graduation.
Esther Clark graduated law school from Rutgers University Law in 1955. She was one of only two women in her class. She was also an associate editor of Law Review at the law school. After her graduation from law school, Clark became a criminal trial attorney at a time when there were very few women in that field.
Professor Clark’s determination and passion helped get RWU Law to where it is today. She helped the school grow and more importantly, helped pave the way for women in the profession of law. In recognition to her contributions to the School of Law, the Moot Court Board named the 2L Competition in her memory.
Esther Clark Competition Winners
Click to OpenYear | Winner | Finalist | Best Brief | Best Overall Oral Advocate | Best On and Off Brief |
2007 | Tyler J. Smith | --- | Kyle Rocha | --- | |
2008 | Craig Graham | --- | Hala Furst | --- | |
2009 | John Meara | --- | Robert Cavanagh | --- | |
2010 | Tolulope Kevin Olasanoye | --- | Ezra Willey | --- | |
2011 | Nicholas Nybo | --- | Christa Harris | --- | |
2012 | Antonio Massa Viana | Thomas Pagliarini | Jeffrey Sheehan | --- | |
2013 | Daniel Reilly | Sydney Kirsch | Christopher Fragomeni | --- | |
2014 | Brett Beaubien | John Ryan Henry | Edward Pare | --- | |
2015 | Katherine Berling | Lindsey Langella | David Revens | --- | |
2016 | Sean Clough | Grace Dzilenski | Alexandra Rawson | --- | |
2017 | Ryan Gallagher | Allison Regan | Brenna Riley | --- | |
2018 | Crystal Peralta | Luis Vargas | Luis Vargas | Caitlyn Forrester-Johnson | |
2019 | Erin Ferry | Amanda Nagim-Williams | Celina Andrade | Sophia Weaver | |
2020 | Jill Magnus | Amanda Tramonte | Amanda Tramonte | Jill Magnus | |
2021 | Noelle Soares | David Braga | Julissa Arce | Penelope Murphy | |
2022 | Pia Piscitelli | Morgan Alger | Michaela Conley | Aicha Elola | Hilary Levey Friedman |