Ave Maria School of Law

Ave Maria School of Law’s Moot Court team advanced to the Final Four at the Robert Orseck Moot Court Competition, one of Florida’s premier appellate advocacy competitions.

Competing against every law school in the state, Alex Weesner and Abigail Ross defeated teams from FIU, Florida State, Nova Southeastern, and Barry before advancing to the semifinal round. Ave Maria ultimately fell in a closely contested semifinal round to the eventual champion, Cooley Law School.

The team was coached by Adjunct Professor Brian Zingaretti under the guidance of Professor Mark Bonner, Faculty Advisor for Moot Court.

A key part of the team’s success was the outstanding appellate brief prepared with the assistance of alumnus Jacob Wade, whose work helped position Ave Maria among the top teams in the state.

“This year’s Orseck team was special because of their commitment to the process,” said Zingaretti. “Their hard work and intense practice schedule, including late nights, early mornings, and arguing without notes, transformed them into a team that impressed every judge they encountered throughout the competition.”

The team’s success reflects the strength of the Ave Maria Law community. Alumni Brian Zingaretti, Jacob Wade, Amanda Newkirk, Pete Valone, Ryan Shapot, and Tylan Ricketts helped prepare the students for competition alongside Professors Stephen Wagner and Bruce Connolly and local practitioner Jim Boatman.

Congratulations to Alex, Abigail, Jacob, Professor Bonner, Professor Zingaretti, and everyone who contributed to this outstanding achievement.

A lawyer.

A judge.

A member of Parliament.

A law professor.

What do they all have in common?

The Catholic Church calls them Blessed and Saint.

As we celebrate the Feast of St. Thomas More, discover the remarkable stories of lawyers, judges, scholars, and public servants whose pursuit of justice became a path to holiness.

The Church does not ask whether lawyers can become saints.

History has already answered that question.

Read more: https://www.avemarialaw.edu/can-lawyers-become-saints/

Can Lawyers Become Saints? | Ave Maria School of Law Ave Maria School of Law celebrated the Class of 2026 during Commencement Exercises at Artis–Naples, honoring 77 graduates formed in faith, reason, and service.

CCLGL Section highlights achievement and service with awards, scholarships, and grants The Florida Bar City, County, and Local Government Law Section recognized outstanding attorneys and law students and awarded internship grants during its recent 49th Annual Conference at the Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood. The conference is the section’s signature CLE event, bringing together att...

Ave Maria School of Law is honored to welcome former U.S. Ambassador Randy Evans to the faculty as a full-time professor.

After a distinguished career in law, public service, and diplomacy, Professor Evans has chosen to devote the next chapter of his professional life to educating and mentoring future lawyers.

Reflecting on that decision, he shared:

"Having been blessed with these extraordinary experiences, I believe the time has come to give back to both my country and the profession that has given me so much."

This fall, Professor Evans will begin teaching first-year law students, helping to shape the next generation of attorneys through one of the most important years of their legal education.

Please join us in welcoming Professor Evans to the Ave Maria Law community.

Read more: https://www.avemarialaw.edu/ave-maria-school-of-law-welcomes-former-u-s-ambassador-randy-evans-to-faculty/





Squire Patton Boggs

The Sacred Heart and the Heart of a Nation

This Friday, June 12, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, one of the most beloved feasts of the Catholic tradition. The celebration invites the faithful to contemplate the boundless love of Christ, symbolized by His Sacred Heart, which remains open to all humanity.

As part of the nation’s observance of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Catholic bishops of the United States have consecrated our country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, entrusting our nation, its people, and its future to the mercy, wisdom, and love of Christ.

The Declaration of Independence famously affirms that all people are “endowed by their Creator” with certain unalienable rights. The Sacred Heart reminds us why those rights possess such dignity and permanence: every human person is created and loved by God.

The image of the Sacred Heart is not merely a symbol of affection. It is a symbol of sacrificial love. The pierced Heart of Christ reveals a God who enters into human suffering, offers mercy, and calls individuals and nations alike to conversion and renewal.

The bishops’ prayer of consecration gives thanks for the blessings our nation has received while seeking healing for the divisions and wounds that continue to affect our communities. It asks that families be strengthened, broken relationships reconciled, and human dignity respected.

For Catholics, consecration is not a political act but a spiritual one. It is an act of trust that places individuals, families, institutions, and even nations under the loving care of Christ.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart and reflect on our nation’s history, may we remember that authentic freedom is rooted not only in rights, but also in truth, virtue, and a recognition of the dignity of every human person.

The full text of the bishops’ consecration prayer and additional resources may be found on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website:

https://www.usccb.org/consecration-united-states-sacred-heart-jesus

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

Most people think of national security in terms of military conflict.

But what happens when the threat is a pathogen, a contaminated food supply, or an attack on critical agricultural resources?

In a newly published article in The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, Ave Maria School of Law Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Professor of Law Kevin H. Govern examines the legal and policy challenges posed by biological weapons, bioterrorism, agroterrorism, and ecoterrorism.

Drawing on law, public policy, and national security perspectives, Professor Govern explores how governments, institutions, and communities can prepare for threats that have the potential to impact public health, economic stability, and social order.

As advances in biotechnology continue to reshape the modern security landscape, scholarship addressing these challenges becomes increasingly important.

Please join us in congratulating Professor Govern on this significant scholarly achievement.

Ave Maria School of Law student Luke Parks has been published in Crisis Magazine.

The article originated as a position paper for Professor Kevin H. Govern's Administrative Law course and reflects the strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills developed through the law school's academic program.

Student scholarship plays an important role in advancing thoughtful discussion on legal and public policy issues, and we are pleased to see Luke's work reach a national audience.

Congratulations to Luke on this accomplishment.

Read the article:
https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/the-catholic-argument-for-abolishing-the-united-states-department-of-education

What does Catholic legal education look like in today's culture?

Dean John Czarnetzky recently talked with Kelly Solomon of The Cardinal Newman Society, and Teresa Tomeo on EWTN's Catholic Connection to discuss the mission of Ave Maria School of Law, the importance of forming the whole person, and why an increasing number of young people are seeking truth and purpose in their education.

"Young people sense hypocrisy. They sense untruth. They need guidance to be steered toward the truth. Simply put, that's what we do in the context of training lawyers."

As the nation's only Catholic law school recognized by the Cardinal Newman Guide, Ave Maria School of Law remains committed to forming lawyers grounded in faith, reason, and service.

Listen to the full interview: https://www.ewtn.com/programs/742-catholic-connection/183777?backToProgramPage=

We are proud to congratulate Dean of Admissions Roxanna Cruz on receiving the Camille deJorna Ubuntu Award from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

Established in 2023, the award recognizes individuals whose service, mentorship, leadership, and commitment to community have made a meaningful impact on legal education.

The award is rooted in the African philosophy of Ubuntu, often translated as "I am because we are," reflecting the belief that our success is tied to how we support and uplift others.

Presented by LSAC President Sudha Setty, this national honor recognizes those who expand opportunity, foster community, and help others succeed.

Reflecting on the recognition, Cruz shared:

"With so many people in the room whom I admire and respect, I could hardly process hearing my name called. My first thought was, 'How did this happen? Why me?' The entire experience felt truly surreal.

This honor is a meaningful reminder that the work we do to support our students and colleagues matters. I am deeply humbled by this recognition and grateful to be acknowledged in such a major way. More than anything, it has renewed my commitment to this work and strengthened my motivation to continue serving others."

Anyone who has worked with Roxanna knows the dedication, compassion, and encouragement she brings to students and colleagues alike. We are grateful for her leadership and proud to see her recognized on the national stage.

Congratulations, Roxanna!