Semifinalist Spotlight: Taylor Sutton '21

Taylor Sutton is a 3L from Tigard, Oregon, though he has been competing from his apartment here in New York City.

He has represented the Government throughout the competition.

We asked Taylor a few questions about his experience competing in the Stone Moot Court Competition this year. Here are his responses:

Stone Director: Walk us through how you prepare for oral arguments. Do you have any routines or practices you've stuck with throughout the competition?

Sutton: Originally, I accidentally wrote my brief for the wrong party—a fact I discovered not long before the submission deadline. I thought that this catastrophe would, at least, prepare me well to face my opponents' arguments. As it turns out, it did not; I have yet to see many of my dustbin draft's arguments resurface, which may indicate my good fortune in arguing for the other side!

Notwithstanding my doubtful predictive powers, my usual preparation routine is to try to anticipate the greatest weaknesses in my arguments and prepare bullet points walking through each step in and objection to my response. I then try to find the two or three points on which my opponent has focused most attention in order to identify their weaknesses. Ultimately, this generates more material than I could ever use, but, to some extent, that is the point.

Stone Director: What has been your favorite part of the Stone Competition so far?

Sutton: I've enjoyed working with my partners to this point. Beyond that, I've had fun researching my assigned issue. It's a problem with a long history and one that has parallels in many places throughout the law that demand reconciliation. I do, however, lament the page limit.

Stone Director: What can be seen in your Zoom box or background during oral arguments?

Sutton: Hopefully nothing—let me know!

Congratulations, Taylor, and good luck in the Semifinal Round!