From L to R: Kwambina Coker, CFO; Callan Smith, Co-Vice Chancellor for Seigenthaler-Sutherland Cup;
Professor Sarah H. Duggin; Dean Daniel F. Attridge; Ashley Greaf, Chancellor; David Brzozowski, Co-Vice Chancellor Seigenthaler-Sutherland Cup; and Williams Holloway, Vice Chancellor of teams
In total, CUA Law's Moot Court Association (MCA) fielded 15 competitors at 7 national competitions. Students participated in competitions ranging from Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Employee Benefits, Telecommunications, and Sports and Entertainment Law in cities like New Orleans, LA; Buffalo, NY; and Washington, D.C.
Students at CUA Law also picked up several awards at moot court competitions across the country this year.
Willistine Harris (2E) and Shanna Mason (2L) placed second at the Ellen A. (Nell) Hennessey National Employee Benefits Moot Court Competition hosted by the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel (ACEBC). Evan Berlanti (2L) took home the runner-up award for Best Oralist at the Seigenthaler-Sutherland Cup National First Amendment Moot Court Competition. Two CUA teams, Laura De La Torre (3E)/Liz Carney (2L) and Elizabeth Ulan (2L)/Kate Dulles (2L), tied for runner up to "Best Brief" at the Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Moot Court Competition.
Competitions Hosted
CUA Law also orchestrated three national moot court competitions on campus this year. The Law School and the Newseum once again partnered to host the annual Seigenthaler-Sutherland Cup National First Amendment Moot Court Competition. Members of the federal judiciary including the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court flew to Washington, D.C., to judge the competition.
The Federal Telecommunications Bar Association once again hosted its National Telecommunication Moot Court Competition on CUA's campus in coordination with the CUA Law Moot Court Association.
And new this year, Catholic also hosted the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel Ellen A. (Nell) Hennessey National Employee Benefits Moot Court Competition on campus
Appellate Advocacy Training and Development
The Moot Court Association also implemented significant reforms to improve recruitment, training, and development of this year's associates. 2018 saw a record number of student participation in Soapbox, the CUA Law's annual 1L appellate advocacy competition. The Moot Court Association also developed a new "Junior Associates" program to improve the pipeline of future competitors and increase first year student involvement in Moot Court. In total, 10 1L's participated in the program and made significant contributions to the Moot Court Association.
The MCA also established several training workshops to further improve associate development. The workshops gave associates the opportunity to have group learning sessions hosted by Members of the CUA faculty who led instruction on brief writing, oral advocacy, blue booking, and mediation skills.
Benefits of Moot Court
Moot Court remained perennially competitive this year and established itself as one of the preeminent student-led organizations on campus. Moot Court gives students the opportunity to develop their appellate advocacy skills; brief writing through analyzing the competition problem; and writing an appellate brief, while working with CUA Law faculty to develop their arguments. It also provides practical experience as students compete in national competitions and make arguments in front of a panel competition judges.
For 1L students, Soapbox and the Moot Court Associations' Junior Associates program provides first year students the opportunity to practice oral advocacy as early as their first semester in law school. By the time other students are preparing for for oral arguments in their first year Lawyering Skills course, Junior Associates may have already argued as many as two to three times in front of a panel of judges.
List of Competitors and Competitions
Seigenthaler-Sutherland Cup National First Amendment Moot Court Competition, Washington, D.C.
Evan Berlanti (2L) (runner-up award for Best Oralist) and Chris Snowden (2L)
*William Gibson (1L), Kenny Walters (1L), and Matthew Harkins (1L)
47th Annual William B. Spong Moot Court Tournament
Williamsburg, VA
Dean Delasalas (3L) and Sean Grafton (2L)
Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Moot Court Competition
Buffalo, NY
Laura De La Torre (3E) and Liz Carney (2L) (Runner Up, Best Brief)
Elizabeth Ulan (2L) and Kate Dulles (2L) (Runner Up, Best Brief)
11th Annual International Baseball Arbitration Competition
New Orleans, LA
Mark Dourmashkin (3L) and Bart Lambergman (2L)
D.C. Cup Moot Court Competition
Washington, D.C.
Katherine Evangelista (4E) and Chris Carrera (2E)
Ellen A. (Nell) Hennessey National Employee Benefits Moot Court Competition
Washington, D.C.
Willistine Harris (2E) and Shanna Mason (2L) (Runner Up)
Federal Telecommunications Bar Association National Telecommunications Moot Court Competition
Washington, D.C.
Andrew Coley (2L) and Tali Gabriel (3L)