Pepperdine Caruso Law Hosts 2025 Otto Cipolla Closing Argument Competition

Pepperdine Caruso Law held the final round of the 2025 Otto Cipolla Closing Argument Competition on Friday, April 11. The annual competition allows students with an interest in trial advocacy the opportunity to compete for a place on the Caruso Law trial advocacy teams, as well as cash prizes. The competitors were given a criminal case, wrote a 6-minute closing argument based on that case, and then performed the closing argument in front of the Caruso Law Trial Advocacy Board and competition coaches.

The 2025 competition winners were:

• Sophia Kennan - first place
• Matthew Conde  - second place
• Christian Langston - third place
• Abigail Zapata, Luke Lindsey, and Haleigh Davis were finalists.

The Cipolla Closing Argument Competition is named for Caruso Law alumnus and competition sponsor Otto Cipolla (JD '83). Faculty advisor professor Harry Caldwell oversees the competition, which is hosted by the Trial Advocacy Board. Other judges of the 2025 competition included assistant dean Stephen White, John Sharer, Anna Tyner, and Angela Carter.