Gender + Sexuality Moot Court Competition

The Gender and Sexuality Moot Court Competition will be held on March 20-21, 2027.

October 14, 2026: Registration opens
December 7, 2026: Registration closes
January 4, 2027: Problem released
February 12, 2027: Last day for questions about the problem
February 19, 2027: Briefs due
March 20-21, 2027: Competition

Fees
Registration costs $350 per team.

Rules
Please see Official 2027 rules here:

2027 GSMCC Official Rules and Participation Requirements (PDF)

Format
This is an online competition. Using Zoom to facilitate this competition helps us to: (1) Keep costs low to increase accessibility and participation; (2) Recruit a pool of judges from across the entire United States with expertise in Gender, Sexuality, and the Law; (3) Gain experience and increase comfortability in online arguments consistent with the increasing availability of virtual courtroom appearances; and (4) Provide programs and students a competition option conscious of the cost, time, and physical demands of in-person travel.

Awards
We will provide information about potential monetary awards and sponsorship as it is available.

CALL FOR COMPETITION JUDGES

MSU College of Law is hosting the FIFTH annual Gender and Sexuality Moot Court Competition on March 20-21, 2027.

The competition will be on ZOOM again this year, and we could use your help judging oral arguments.

If you have any questions or trouble signing up, please get in touch with Heather Johnson at johnl98l@msu.edu or by phone at (734) 678-6712.

Frequently Asked Questions about volunteering as a Moot Court judge:

What qualifications do I need to be a Moot Court judge?
If you are a law school graduate, a retired or practicing attorney or judge, you can be a Moot Court judge.

What do I do as a Moot Court Judge?
You watch and listen to current law students give their best arguments and evaluate their oral advocacy skills. You also have the opportunity to provide brief feedback and practice tips.

Am I a solo judge or is their a panel?
Judges typically serve in panels of three, you along with two other judges will watch arguments in each round.

What sort of advance preparation is required?
The Moot Court problem and bench brief will be sent to you before the competition. The materials will explain the legal issues in detail and provide a list of sample questions. We ask that you review these documents before the competition. No additional research is needed.

Do I need expertise in any particular subject area?
Short Answer: No. Longer Answer: In our experience, having judges from diverse legal backgrounds enhances our competition and the feedback provided to student competitors.

Is training required?
No. A brief informational meeting will be held before judging during the check-in time to familiarize you with the rules of the competition and the online scoring sheet.

What do I do?
The largest number of judges are needed for the preliminary rounds of the competition to be held on Saturday, March 20, 2027. Morning and afternoon time slots are available. Please indicate your availability when signing up.

Can I watch the final round of the competition?
The final round of the competition is broadcast as a WEBINAR on Zoom. Please check out the competition website for final round Zoom information.

For additional information please email the competition leadership team at gsmcc@law.msu.edu.

The Gender and Sexuality Moot Court Competition was created in 2022 by Michigan State University College of Law Professors Heather L. Johnson and Nancy A. Costello with the support of the Dean.

Competition information, including law school participation information, a link to the final round and award ceremony, and the competition results for each year are listed below.

2022

• Competition Information

2023

• Competition Information

2024

• Competition Information

2025

• Competition Information

2026

• Competition Information