Named after Ronald J. Riccio, former dean of Seton Hall Law School and emeritus faculty member, the competition honors his longtime support of the Moot Court program at Seton Hall Law School.
The Ronald J. Riccio First-Year Moot Court Competition is a spring semester competition
open to all first-year full-time and weekend Seton Hall Law students.
The competition consists of oral arguments only. Competitors do not write briefs.
Students compete in two preliminary rounds, after which the field is narrowed to 32.
The remaining students compete in seeded, head-to-head elimination rounds until a
winner is determined. Quarterfinalists and semifinalists are invited to join the Interscholastic
Moot Court Board.
The competition is scheduled to begin February 12, 2027.
2026 Winner: Starr Vijolan-Bobelea
2026 Finalist: Michael Stivala
2025 Winner: Lillian Veits
2025 Finalist: Matthew Prior
2024 Winner: Raquelle Rocco
2024 Finalist: Melissa McGloin
2023 Winner: Christopher Frey
2023 Finalist: Elizabeth Lesso
2022 Winner: James Finnegan
2022 Finalist: Eian McKeon
2021 Winner: Michael Oros
2021 Finalist: Samantha Jerabek
The Riccio Competition honors Dean Emeritus Ronald Riccio, who led Seton Hall Law
through one of its most consequential chapters—anchoring the school in Newark, raising
its landmark building and shaping an institution built to last. His legacy of vision,
service and purpose remains woven into the school’s foundation, embodying what it
means to lead with purpose and reflecting what Seton Hall Law has always stood for:
opportunity, resilience and service to the community.
