Judge Thomas Tang and Dr. Pearl Tang Moot Court (TTMC) Competition
The Judge Thomas Tang and Dr. Pearl Tang Moot Court Competition is an appellate advocacy competition sponsored annually by the NAPABA Law Foundation. The purpose of this Competition is to help law students develop advocacy skills and to foster legal talents of the future.
The Competition was founded in 1993 and is named in honor of the late Honorable Thomas Tang, a respected jurist who served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1977 until his passing in 1995. Judge Tang’s decisions during his more than eighteen years on the Ninth Circuit reflected his strong commitment to civil rights for all people. Judge Tang was known for his kindness and warmth, and the leadership role he played in the Asian Pacific American legal community. He provided tremendous support to NAPABA and its activities, including the creation of this national moot court competition. In 2022, the competition was renamed The Judge Thomas Tang and Dr. Pearl Tang Moot Court Competition, in recognition of Dr. Pearl Tang, Judge Tang’s wife.
2026 Judge Thomas Tang and Dr. Pearl Tang Moot Court Competition
Registration for the 2026 Judge Thomas Tang and Dr. Pearl Tang Moot Court Competition is now open! This is the 34th anniversary of an annual tradition that fosters crucial advocacy skills among law students nationwide. This year’s competition topic is to be determined.
The timeline of the 2026 competition is as follows:
Problem Release: August 21, 2026
Registration Closes: September 10, 2026
Brief Submission Deadline: October 3, 2026
Regional Rounds:
In-Person: October 9, 2026, at the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York City, NY (Limited to 12 teams.)
Zoom: October 17, 2026 (Teams can choose to attend remotely from the beginning. Note: Teams will be assigned to Zoom once the in-person spots are filled).
National Competition: Top teams from both regional rounds will advance to the National Competition, held at the NAPABA Convention in Los Angeles, CA, on November 13-14, 2026.
NLF awards the top winners in brief writing and oral advocacy at the Regional Competitions. Awards and up to $10,000 in scholarships are given to the top winners at the National Competition.
The registration fee is $850 per team.
Follow our TTMC Competition LinkedIn for updates. Please direct questions to the TTMC Nationals Committee at thomastangmootcourt@gmail.com.
Online entry fees are preferred. Checks can be sent to:
NAPABA Law Foundation
C/O The Judge Thomas Tang and Dr. Pearl Tang Moot Court
1612 K Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
