Moot Court Competition Finals 2026

Register

Friday, April 10th, 2026
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Registration
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Competition
UCI Student Center, Crystal Cove Auditorium
311 W Peltason Dr a, Irvine, CA 92697

More about the Moot Court Competition.
 

Judges

The Honorable Ana de Alba, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

The Honorable Brian A. Jackson, United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana

The Honorable Mónica Ramírez Almadani, United States District Court for the Central District of California

 

Summary of the Case

James Whitaker is a licensed taxi driver and firearms instructor in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. On March 18, 2025, the city enacted Ordinance 01-2025, adopting a controversial political ordinance that drew intense public attention. Three days later, large groups of protesters and counter-protesters gathered downtown. While transporting passengers between the demonstrations, Whitaker parked near the protest zone to record the events for his online channel. He lawfully carried a concealed handgun.

 

During the protest, Whitaker became involved in a verbal dispute with a counter-protester, Parker Ellis. Police officers responding to the scene heard what sounded like a gunshot, discovered a bullet hole in Whitaker’s taxi, and arrested him. Whitaker disclosed his firearm and license, cooperated with police, and was released that evening without charges. Forensic testing later confirmed that the bullet did not come from his weapon, and the Lancaster City Bureau of Police closed its investigation on March 28, 2025.

 

Despite that closure, the Bureau refused to return Whitaker’s firearm and impounded taxi. Officials cited “Directive 22-07,” a policy governing the return of property seized during “politically sensitive” incidents, which requires multiple approvals and a “quiet period” following any materially related protest activity (even outside of Lancaster). The Bureau also required Whitaker to pay more than $2,600 in storage and towing fees before reclaiming his taxi, an amount he could not afford.

 

On April 28, 2025, Whitaker filed suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging violations of his Fourth, Second, and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The district court dismissed the Fourth Amendment claim, but the Third Circuit reversed, holding that a seizure reasonable at its inception may become unreasonable when its justification ends. The Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari.

 

Question Presented

Whether the continued retention of personal property must be reasonable under the Fourth Amendment when the investigation justifying the initial seizure has been closed and no charges have been filed.

 

2025-2026 Moot Court Board

The UC Irvine School of Law Moot Court Board is comprised of third-year students who successfully participated in Moot Court previously. This year’s Moot Court Board consists of the following members:

• Chair: Juliana Rosenfeld
• Vice Chairs: Daniel Jaffe & Lindsey Busk
• Directors of Bench Brief: Ahmad Shanaa & Connor Lennard
• Directors of Judicial Relations: Nicholas Liu & Hailey Montez
• Directors of Internal Relations: Sky Reed

 

Mission Statement

The mission of the UC Irvine School of Law Moot Court Board is to promote the development and refinement of students’ legal research, writing and appellate oral advocacy skills through experiential learning. Each year, the Board organizes an intramural moot court competition that asks students to grapple with real legal issues to prepare them for outstanding legal careers.

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