John L. Costello National Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Competition

February 9-12, 2023

Registration for the Fifteenth Annual John L. Costello National Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Competition is closed.

Venue Information about the Costello Competition

The competition will take place on February 9-12, 2023. The entire competition is held in person.

The Thursday and Friday rounds will be held at the Antonin Scalia Law School campus.

The Saturday and Sunday rounds will be held at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in Washington D.C..

Registration cost is $750 for the first team, $250 for the second team.

General Information about the Costello Competition

The Costello Competition is uniquely designed by Judge Jonathan Thacher to take participants outside the typical realms of law school competitions. By revealing unknown facts and witnesses as the competition progresses, the Costello Competition simulates the evolving and unexpected nature of real-life criminal trials. This dynamic design provides competitors with a realistic experience as counsel in a criminal trial and an exciting take on trial advocacy! All competition judges are local judges and practitioners, making the competition as realistic as possible! Finalists will present their case in front of a panel of judges and a jury. and competitors will use the Federal Rules of Evidence and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Competing schools will be permitted to send at least one team to the Costello Competition. Competitors are side-restricted and teams must consist of only two competitors. Scalia Law Trial Ad will provide all witnesses and judges for the competition. If, for whatever reason, all available slots do not fill up, then schools will be able to register additional teams on a first-come basis. The application to register for Costello Competition is closed.

For any additional questions or information, please contact Annette Yospe at gmusltrialad@gmail.com.