Tournament Coordinators: Lauren Cooper & Nicole Cusack
Problem Writer: Joe Gorman

---

2009 Tournament Results

(Out of 86 Competitors)

OVERALL

1st Place: Lindsay Parker
2nd Place: Derek Hecht
3rd Place: Christin Lawler
4th Place: Joshua Schloesser

BEST ORALIST AWARDS

1st Place: Seth McCutcheon
2nd Place: Derek Hecht
2nd Place: Randy Freedman
3rd Place: Joanna Simon
4th Place: Christin Lawler

BEST BRIEF - PETITIONER

1st Place: Chris Rhoads
2nd Place: Kristy Hewitt
3rd Place: Arthur Connors
4th Place: Ross Matteson

BEST BRIEF - RESPONDENT

1st Place: Laura Vogltanz
2nd Place: Eva Garon
3rd Place: Whitney May
4th Place: Mike Peck

QUARTERFINALISTS:

Christin Lawler
Lindsay Parker
Laura Vogltanz
Robert Brady
Derek Hecht
Arthur Connors
Joshua Schloesser
Hazel Pangan

ROUND OF 16:

Christin Lawler
Lindsay Parker
Joanna Simon
Elizabeth Renner
Laura Vogltanz
Kristy Hewitt
Robert Brady
Jordon Harlan
Whitney May
Tricia Lee
Derek Hecht
Arthur Connors
Christina Salazar
Seth McCutcheon
Joshua Schloesser
Hazel Pangan

ROUND OF 32:

Geoff Rill
Christin Lawler
Kara Mingo
Lindsay Parker
Alexander Guiha
Jason Hall
Eva Garon
Katherine Messana
Dennis Evans
Joanna Simon
Elizabeth Renner
Robert Glenn Ayres
Chris Rhoads
Philip Stephen
Laura Vogltanz
Kristy Hewitt
Robert Brady
Jordon Harlan
Whitney May
Tricia Lee
Gordon Walters
Derek Hecht
Arthur Connors
Christina Salazar
Seth McCutcheon
Ross Matteson
Rachael Callahan
Anna Philips
Rebecca Soule
Joshua Schloesser
Hazel Pangan
Randy Freedman

 

 

---

 

Problem Summary:

This year's McLennon problem involves the highly controversial Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act ("RLUIPA").  RLUIPA requires application of strict scrutiny to local zoning decisions that substantially burden religious exercise.  Congress unanimously enacted the statute after the Supreme Court struck down its predecessor, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, as unconstitutional.

In our case, a Church, already unpopular in its wealthy suburban community for its controversial animal sacrifice practices, seeks to tear down its existing structure and build a state of the art center for the homeless.  The project requires a zoning permit.  Residents attending the Zoning Board hearing complained that the project would draw the homeless to the community, where it is largely believed that a homeless man recently murdered a wealthy heiress in her home.  The Zoning Board denied the permit application, designating the building a historic landmark.  The Church filed an RLUIPA lawsuit, arguing that the permit denial was arbitrary and an example of pretextual discrimination.

For tournament purposes, our "Supreme Court" will be reviewing both the issue of whether RLUIPA is constitutional under Congress's Fourteenth Amendment remedial power to enact prophylactic legislation to deter constitutional violations, and whether the statute impermissibly advances religion under the Establishment Clause by providing it with a remedy unavailable to secular groups.

This Information Subject to Change.

For results from the 2008 McLennon Tournament, please click here.

For results from the 2007 McLennon Tournament, please click here.

For results from the 2006 McLennon Tournament, please click here.

---

About McLennon

The McLennon Competition, endowed through the generosity of USD law professor Michael Devitt and his family to honor longtime family friend, attorney and naval officer, Paul A. McLennon, Sr., provides an opportunity for students to develop their brief writing and advocacy skills and to test these skills in an open, rigorous competition. Organized by the Appellate Moot Court Board, the competition consists of several preliminary rounds, culminating in the Final Round argued before a distinguished panel of judges.