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Smith Hulsey & Busey and Smith Gambrell & Russell host 43rd Annual Florida-Georgia Moot Court Competition

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University of Florida law students emerge victorious in 2023

Florida-Georgia / Hulsey-Gambrell Moot Court Competition

The Florida-Georgia/Hulsey-Gambrell Moot Court Competition was held at the Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse in Jacksonville. This year, the Florida Gators emerged victorious in the courtroom.

The annual Florida-Georgia/Hulsey-Gambrell Moot Court Competition returned for its 43rd year on October 27 at the Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse in Jacksonville.

The competition between students from the University of Florida College of Law and the University of Georgia School of Law is held annually on the eve of the Florida-Georgia football game and has become a tradition in the Jacksonville legal community. This year, the Florida Gators emerged victorious in the courtroom.

Two law students from each school competed in a mock case before the U.S. Supreme Court and made their appellate arguments before a panel of federal and state court judges from the two states. Sam Budnyk and Logan Edwards represented the University of Florida; Jake Shatzer and Sandon Fernandez competed for the University of Georgia.

The victors earn the championship trophy to keep at their law school for the year. The tournament record now stands at 26 wins for Georgia, 12 wins for Florida, and five ties.

Samuel Budnyk; The Honorable Lisa Godbey Wood, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia; Logan Edwards. (Samuel and Logan were the winning competitors from UF.)

UF student Samuel Budnyk, Judge Lisa Godbey, and UF student Logan Edwards.

The participating judges in this year’s competition included:

  • Chief Judge J. Randal Hall of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia
  • Judge Lisa Godbey Wood of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia
  • Judge Waddell A. Wallace III of the Fourht Judicial Circuit of Florida
  • Judge Harvey L. Jay III of the Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal
  • Judge Boatwright of the Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal

Each year, law firms Smith Hulsey & Busey and Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP sponsor the event in memory of the late Mark Hulsey, a partner with Smith Hulsey, and the late E. Smythe Gambrell, a founding partner of Smith Gambrell. Gambrell was president of the ABA and the American Bar Foundation. Hulsey served as president of The Florida Bar and the Jacksonville Bar Association. Both were exceptional lawyers and leaders in their communities.

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