In a mock appellate court case Friday morning at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, John Roberts, chief justice of the United States, and three other judges heard oral arguments from four UF law students.
The students, members of UF's Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court team, became lawyers in a fictional case between the Department of Motor Vehicles of Webb, a made-up state, and Planned Parenthood of Webb. The students argued the constitutionality of "Choose Life" license plates sold by the DMV.
Each student had about 15 minutes to argue their cases in front of the panel of judges, which included Roberts and three judges from the 11th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals.
They were judged on their oral arguments and written briefs, which were submitted in July.
A few minutes into the first oral argument, Roberts showed his humorous side when he interrupted Cary Aronovitz, representing the DMV, while he was discussing earlier circuit court decisions.
"We're not bound, of course, by what the circuit courts have to say. In fact, we don't really pay much attention to what they have to say," Roberts joked.
The crowd erupted in laughter.
Among other issues, the students discussed whether license plates with printed messages constituted government speech and whether a $25 charge for the hypothetical license plates should be considered a tax.
"We unanimously decided there was not a bad one among them, and that's not always the case," Roberts said of the competitors before tendering the verdict.
The students who represented the DMV were declared the best team. Individual awards went to Robert Davis, of Planned Parenthood, for best overall competitor and Aronovitz for best brief and best oralist.
Kevin Combest, who represented the DMV, said he thought he'd be nervous arguing in front of Roberts but found him less intimidating than expected.
"He's very disarming the way he asks questions because he's talking to you the way a friend would, or a colleague," he said.
Combest said he practiced with the moot court team for about three hours a day for the week and half leading up to the event.
Aronovitz said he put everything aside to prepare for the competition.
"Classes have taken a back seat. Even football's taken a back seat," he said.
"Now that this is over with, we can get our real priorities back."
