MD
Chief Justice
Matthew Danielsen
"Whether it's your first time being in a law program, the judicial program allows students to develop their debating skills and grow as public speakers."
New York Judicial Branch
Argue the case.
Attorneys argue appellate cases before a panel of student justices. Applications for justices and attorneys are due Oct 12, 2026.
Led by students
2026-27 Judicial officers
Questions about the judicial program? Reach the Chief Justice on Instagram at @nys.chief.justice.
SP
Attorney General
Sunny Park
Represents the State in the Constitutional Law Case.
CS
Public Defender
Christopher Schelhas
Represents the individual in the Constitutional Law Case.
Two ways to take part
Attorneys and justices
Argue the case
Attorneys work in pairs, and each pair is a team. A team gets 15 minutes for its oral argument and splits the time however it likes. The opener starts the round and leaves the rest of the time to the closer. Justices ask questions about the facts throughout.
Decide the case
Justices learn the facts of all three cases, guide attorneys through the year, and help them prepare their briefs and arguments. They question attorneys during each round, then the panel deliberates and decides the winner. Justices attend the Judicial Steering Conference.
Pick your challenge
Three cases, three levels
Getting started
The most approachable case, recommended for students new to the judicial program.
Building up
A middle level case for some new members and some veterans.
The big challenge
The most advanced case, taken on by most veterans.
The Constitutional Law Case. Each year the Attorney General and Public Defender argue whether a bill passed the year before is constitutional, before the Chief Justice and a panel of justices.
Before conference
Write the brief
- Every attorney team writes a brief for its case.
- Start with a factual summary of the case.
- Answer each of the main questions the case asks.
- Briefs are due Feb 15, 2027.
- AI is a tool for research. It can't write your bill, brief or speech, and you must understand and defend your positions.
In the courtroom
Argue the case
- 15 minutes per team. Split the time between your opener and closer.
- The opener starts the round and frames your argument.
- Expect questions. Justices ask about the facts at any point.
- The closer finishes the round.
- The panel deliberates and decides the winner. Decisions are read on the last morning.
2026-27 calendar
Key dates
Scroll sideways to see the whole table.
| Due | What |
|---|---|
| Oct 12, 2026 | Judicial Application due (justices and attorneys) |
| Dec 12 to 13 | Judicial Steering, Hilton Garden Inn, Nanuet. For justices and Presiding Officers. $120 per student, $180 per adult. |
| Feb 15, 2027 | Briefs due |
| Mar 1, 2027 | NJC submissions due |
| Apr 2 to 4, 2027 | High School Conference, Albany |
Recognizing great work
Outstanding Brief for each case, Outstanding Attorney for each courtroom, Outstanding Firm and Outstanding Justice.
National Judicial Competition
New York's strongest attorneys can go on to the National Judicial Competition. NJC is $650 plus travel and meals, with aid up to $500.
A program built by advisors. 2026 Hall of Fame inductee Joe Depadilla spent years writing cases, training justices and attorneys, and coaching New York's NJC team. Hall of Fame
Examples
See past work
Real work from recent years. Use it as a model.
PDF2026 cases and judicial rulesThe 2026 High School Bill Book, pages 191 to 198: all three cases, the Constitutional Law Case, procedure and a glossary. (opens in a new tab)PDFChief Justice's welcomeHow attorneys, justices and the three case levels work, in the Chief Justice's words. (opens in a new tab)