The annual Ilana Diamond Rovner Appellate Advocacy Competition is named for Chicago-Kent graduate Ilana Diamond Rovner, judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

2023 – 32nd Competition

Students argued McElrath v. Georgia, a case out of the Georgia Supreme Court that  explored the meaning of the Fifth Amendment’s Double Jeopardy Clause

  • Winner of the Ilana Diamond Rovner Award: Joseph Strom ‘25
  • Fay Clayton Award for Outstanding Oral Advocate: Colin Boysen ‘25
  • Ralph L. Brill Best Brief Award: Breck Radulovic ‘25

2022 – 31st Competition

  • Winner of the Ilana Diamond Rovner Award: Charlie J. Johnson ‘24
  • Fay Clayton Award for Outstanding Oral Advocate: Kaitlyn Watkins ‘24
  • Ralph L. Brill Best Brief Award: Nell Riordan ‘24

2021 – 30th Competition

  • Winner of the Ilana Diamond Rovner Award: Kaitlyn Kloss ‘23
  • Fay Clayton Award for Outstanding Oral Advocate: Ryan Martin ‘23
  • Ralph L. Brill Best Brief Award: Nicole Jansma ‘23

2020 – 29th Competition

  • Winner of the Ilana Diamond Rovner Award: Mia Hayes ‘22
  • Fay Clayton Award for Outstanding Oral Advocate: Jacob Skolnik ‘22
  • Ralph L. Brill Best Brief Award: Ivan Alston ’22 & Shaunagh McGoldrick ‘22

2019 – 28th Competition

  • Winner of the Ilana Diamond Rovner Award: Kristen Merritt ‘21
  • Fay Clayton Award for Outstanding Oral Advocate: Sakshi Jain ‘21
  • Ralph L. Brill Best Brief Award: Hayden Dinges ‘21

2018 – 27th Competition

  • Winner of the Ilana Diamond Rovner Award: Jack Etchingham ‘20
  • Fay Clayton Award for Outstanding Oral Advocate: Alec Kraus ‘20
  • Ralph L. Brill Best Brief Award: Mitchell Bild ‘20

2017 – 26th Competition

Students argued Carpenter v. United States, a case that presents a question about the scope of Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches in the digital age.

Learn more about the 2017 competition and the winners here.

Rovner Competition 2017 Winners

Rovner Competition 2017 Winners

  • Winner: Margaret Kamm ’19
  • Second Place: Pauline Panayi ’19
  • Ralph L. Brill Award for Best Brief: Jack Amaro ’19
  • Edmund Burke Advocacy Award: Pauline Panayi ’19
  •  Fay Clayton Award for Outstanding Oral Advocate: Blake Thompson ’19

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2016 – 25th Competition

Students argued Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, a First Amendment case out of Colorado.

Learn more about the 2016 competition and the winners here.

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2015 – 24th Competition

Students argued Evenwel v. Abbott, a closely watched voting rights case out of Texas that raises important issues under the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.

Learn more about the 2015 competition and the winners here.

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2014 – 23rd Competition

Students argued Ohio v. Clark, a criminal case that raises issues under the Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause.

Learn more about the 2014 competition and the winners here.

Watch the final round of the 2014 competition:

2013 – 22nd Competition

Students argued Woollard v. Gallagher, a Second Amendment case out of Maryland challenging that state’s so-called “may-issue” concealed carry law.

Learn more about the 2013 competition and the winners here.

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2012 – 21st Competition

Students argued a constitutional challenge to Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which defines “marriage” as the legal union of one man and one woman.

Learn more about the 2012 competition and the winners here.

2011 – 20th Competition

Students argued Thomas More Law Center v. Obama, one of several cases in the federal courts challenging the constitutionality of various provisions of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Learn more about the 2011 competition and the winners here.

2010 – 19th Competition

Students argued Schwarzenegger v. Entertainment Merchants Association, a case currently pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Learn more about the 2010 competition and the winners here.