Awards & Winners
John A. Cortner Moot Court Competition Award
The Cortner Award goes each year to the team that wins the final round of the Bass Berry & Sims Moot Court Competition. The award is named for John Cortner, '85, who served as the Vanderbilt Moot Court Board's Chief Justice in 1985-86. John Cortner revitalized the law school's moot court program by assembling a topnotch group of students to participate on the moot court board and professionalizing its daily operations. Through the strength of his personality, he elevated the board's visibility and reputation at Vanderbilt Law School. John was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease shortly after accepting a position with Bogle & Gates in Seattle and died within the year. In 1988, the family of John Cortner established and funded this award in as a memorial to his energetic commitment to the moot court program.
2009 Winners: Genet Berhane and Stuart Burkhalter
2009 Finalists: Aaron Chastain and David Dunn
Judge Albert C. Hunt National Moot Court Team Award
This annual cash award, which honors the memory of Judge Albert C. Hunt, goes to Vanderbilt Law students chosen as members of the National Moot Court Team. Judge Hunt graduated from Vanderbilt Law School in 1909 and was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma at the time of his death in 1956.
2008 Winners: Brad Willard, Chasity Roberts and Safieh Nemazee
Bass Berry & Sims Moot Court Competition Award
Awarded to the semifinalists in the Intramural Appellate Competition.
2009 Semi-Finalists: Dan Vitelli, Jason Sexton, Ryan Holt, and Todd Hartley
Best Oralist
The Best Oralist is chosen by a committee of Moot Court Board members headed by the Chief Justice of the Board.
2009 Winner: Beth Cruz
Best Brief
The Best Brief Award is chosen by the entire Moot Court Board based on the grading system for the briefs each team turns in.
2009 Winners: Nancy Zeronda and Peter Wiltenburg
K. Harlan Dodson Moot Court Staff Award
An award to the senior member of the Moot Court staff, other than the Chief Justice, who rendered the most outstanding service during the year in all aspects of the Moot Court program.
2009 Winner: Brandon Martin
