Barbara J. “B.J.” Tillman was named champion and received the Morehead Best Oralist Award at the 2026 First-year Moot Court Competition, according to an April 10 announcement from the University of Georgia School of Law. Brandon T. “Trey” Wilkerson finished as finalist in a competition judged by UGA President Jere W. Morehead, Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner, and Judge Elizabeth D. Gobeil of the Georgia Court of Appeals.
The recognition highlights student achievement in advocacy skills and underscores the importance of experiential learning for law students.
The final round brought together notable figures from both academia and the judiciary to evaluate participants’ performances. The event also held personal significance for Tillman, whose mother, Audrey Boone Tillman, is a 1989 alumna who participated in the school’s advocacy program when it was led by then-coach Jere Morehead.
The University of Georgia School of Law has a strong record in advocacy competitions with national and regional titles according to its official website. The school supports experiential learning through 18 clinics and externships while maintaining high graduate employment rates as indicated on its website. Students benefit from access to extensive resources at the Alexander Campbell King Law Library according to university information.
Ranked No. 22 by U.S. News & World Report and recognized for value by National Jurist according to its official website, the law school serves a diverse student body with strong academic profiles as noted online. The institution focuses on redefining excellence in public legal education through teaching quality and community service initiatives per university sources.
As students like Tillman continue to excel in such competitions, observers may expect further achievements that reinforce both individual accomplishment and institutional reputation.
