National Competitions

ABA National Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Competition

The ABA Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) emphasizes the development of oral advocacy skills through a realistic appellate advocacy experience. Competitors participate in a hypothetical appeal to the United States Supreme Court. The competition involves writing a brief as either respondent or petitioner and then arguing the case in front of the mock court.

Team 1:           Michael Fox, William Orlewicz
Team 2:           Elizabeth Arnone, John Reiterowski
Coaches:         Professors Karen Henning, Michelle Streicher

Chicago Bar Association Moot Court Competition

The 2010 Chicago Bar Association Moot Court problem deals with whether a United States citizen has a right to be free from an unreasonable search and seizure of their personal electronic data stored on his or her laptop computer and personal electronic devices like cellular telephones. Specifically, the problem explores whether Constitutional protections concerning search and seizure apply at border crossings, and, if so, to what degree is personal electronic data protected from unreasonable search and seizure.

Team 1:           Joanne Golden, Katherine Krysak, Eric Ketelhut
Team 2:           Lindsay Finkel, Michael Fox, John Reiterowski
Coaches:         Professors Richard Broughton, Michelle Streicher

Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition

The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is the world's largest moot court competition, with participants from over 500 law schools in more than 80 countries. The Competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations. One team is allowed to participate from every eligible school. Teams prepare oral and written pleadings arguing both the applicant and respondent positions of the case.

Team 1: Elizabeth Reifert, Terrance Liu, Dan Cortez, Alana Longmoore, Peter Domas (Brief Writer)
Coach: Professor Cara Cunningham

William McGee Civil Rights Moot Court Competition

The William E. McGee National Civil Rights Moot Court Competition is an inter-scholastic appellate moot court competition sponsored by the University of Minnesota Law School. Its mission is to promote interest, reflection and discourse among law students, law faculty and members of the practicing bar and bench in the substance, procedure and practice of civil rights law and to provide opportunity to interested law students to develop the oral advocacy and writing skills essential to be successful appellate practitioners.

Team 1:           Eric Ketelhut               Team 2:           Pamela Sossi
                        Julianne Polgar                                   Justin Black
                        Adam Post                                         Diana Ray

Coaches:          Professor Julia Belian and Greta Tackebury

Gibbons Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition

The John J. Gibbons Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition, now in its seventeenth year, focuses on timely issues of criminal procedure and criminal law. Each team will write one brief, representing the party of its choice. Each team will argue both sides during oral argument.

Team 1: Lindsay Finkel, Sharon Rangi, Alexandria Sanders
Coach:   Professor Jennifer Henderson

Niagara International Law Moot Court Competition

The Canada-United States Law Institute administers the Niagara International Moot Court Competition, an international law moot that draws fifteen to thirty teams from law schools in Canada and the United States. Participating teams address a hypothetical dispute affecting the bi-lateral relationship before the International Court of Justice. The Institute recruits teams, promulgates rules, establishes deadlines, approves the problem, and settles disputes.

Team 1: Daniel Marchese, Desiree D’Souza, Alex Cavanaugh, Stephania Sikora
Coach: Professor Jeffrey Silver

Mercer University School of Law Moot Court Competition

The Mercer Ethics and Professionalism Competition is an interscholastic appellate moot court competition sponsored by the Walter F. George Mercer University School of Law’s Advocacy Council. The issue is whether a prosecutor may be subjected to a civil trial and potential damages for a wrongful conviction and incarceration where the prosecutor allegedly (1) violated a criminal defendant's "substantive due process" rights by procuring false testimony during the criminal investigation, and then (2) introduced that same testimony against the criminal defendant at trial.

Team 1:           Paul Jonna, Anthony Roby
Team 2:           Gillian Hall, Julianne Polgar
Coaches:         Professor Karen Henning