CAVC Historical Society Annual Meeting and Panel Discussion

Creation and Development of the National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition

October 16, 2024, 3:00 pm

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Library and via Zoom

Co-sponsored by the CAVC Historical Society and CAVC Bar Association

On October 16, 2024, the CAVC Historical Society hosted its annual meeting and, immediately thereafter, a panel discussion exploring the creation and development of the National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition (NVLMCC).  This competition, first organized in 2009, is the nation’s premier moot court focusing on veterans law.  Co-sponsored by the CAVC, the CAVC Bar Association, and the George Washington University School of Law, the NVLMCC brings together teams of students from around the country to argue cutting-edge veterans law issues before distinguished practitioners and judges. The NVLMCC creates one of the most true-to-practice experiences in the country, with the final round typically presided over by a panel of judges from the CAVC in their courtroom. 

Have you ever wondered how they develop their problem?  How coaches prepare their teams?  Interested in learning how to volunteer?  This panel will answer those questions, as well as discuss the early days of the competition’s creation.  

Panelists:

Yelena Duterte, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Law

Jon Gaffney, Congressional Research Service

David M. Johnson, George Washington University School of Law

Alice Kerns, U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

Moderator:

James Ridgway, Bergmann and Moore, LLC

Panel Discussion: The Evolution of Appellate Representation Before the CAVC

On June 30, 2023, the CAVC Historical Society and CAVC Bar Association hosted a panel discussion regarding the evolution of appellate representation before the CAVC. 

With the creation of the Court in 1988, veterans and their families had the right of judicial review of their VA appeals for the first time. There was, however, a lack of sufficient qualified counsel to represent these constituents, creating unique problems for the Court and VA. The panel discussed the various ways the Court, and the broader veterans law community, have tried to ensure that interested pro se litigants have representation before the Court. Topics for discussion included the effect of unrepresented litigants on practice before the Court, the rise of the Veterans Consortium, and the evolution of the appellants’ bar.

Panelists
Judge Mary Schoelen, U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Linda Blauhut, Paralyzed Veterans of America
Mary Flynn, Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs
Ronald Smith, Esq.
Andrew Reynolds, Central Legal Staff, U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

Moderator
David Ames, Bergmann and Moore, LLC

Conversation with the Chief Judges of the Second Generation of the Court

On October 21, 2021, the CAVC Historical Society and CAVC Bar Association hosted a panel discussion featuring three Chief Judges from the second generation of the Court, Senior Judges William P. Greene, Jr., Lawrence B. Hagel, and Robert N. Davis. 

Moderated by current Judge Michael P. Allen, the panel discussed challenges and triumphs as the Court grew, the continued evolution of the institution, and their thoughts about the Court’s history.

CAVC History From The Perspective Of Its Clerks of Court

On February 25, 2021, the CAVC Historical Society and CAVC Bar Association hosted a panel discussion featuring the first three Clerks of the Court, Melanie Dorsey, Robert Comeau, and Norman Herring. Moderated by the fourth and current Clerk, Gregory Block, the panel discussed challenges faced in the early days of the Court, the evolution of the position from the days of paper to electronic filing, and share their thoughts about the Court’s history. 

Panel Discussion: The Court’s First 15 Years

Please join the CAVC Historical Society for a panel discussion featuring two of the Court’s original Judges, Kenneth B. Kramer and Donald L. Ivers, moderated by current Judge Amanda Meredith. In honor of the Court’s 30th anniversary in 2019, the panel will focus on the first 15 years of the Court’s history.

When: Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 3:00 pm
Where: Courtroom, U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

We will also livestream the event on the Historical Society’s YouTube Channel.

If you plan to attend in person, please RSVP by Monday, June 24, to info@cavchistory.org.

Notice of 2019 Annual Meeting & Trustee Elections

The CAVC Historical Society’s 2019 Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at 3:00 pm in the Chief Judge’s Chambers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

Please RSVP to Jon Gaffney at president@cavchistory.org if you plan to attend.

Trustee Elections

We are accepting nominations for individuals interested in serving on our Board of Trustees. If you are interested or would like to nominate someone, please email Jon Gaffney at president@cavchistory.org no later than Wednesday, May 8.

Election ballots will be emailed to members approximately two weeks before the annual meeting.

2018 Annual Meeting and Officer Elections

Save the Date for our

2018 Annual Meeting

Thursday, May 3, 2018
3:00 pm

CAVC Courtroom
US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
625 Indiana Ave NW, Suite 900

Please RSVP to president@cavchistory.org.

Call-In Details:
1 (855) 797-9485, Meeting # 857 648 304

If you are interested in running (or nominating someone) for one of our officer positions (President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer), please email president@cavchistory.org