The Stephenson Trial Advocacy Competition is a competitive version of the full trials that complete the semester and intersession trial advocacy courses. The competition, which began in 1984, is named after Judge Roy L. Stephenson, an esteemed judge of the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and a 1940 graduate of the Iowa Law College. A fund to provide for this competition was established by Judge Stephenson's former law clerks. A limited number of law students who have demonstrated superior ability in advocacy during the trial advocacy courses participate in a week-long series of mock trials judged by local members of the bench and bar. The final round of competition is judged by federal judges and Iowa Supreme Court justices. The competition, which takes place in October, culminates in a banquet where awards are presented to the winning participants and to the best litigator. Individuals selected from the competition represent Iowa at national trial competitions in the spring.