Seton Hall law students win local moot court competition
Nine schools from across country participate in law school event
FEB. 7, 2009 -- A team of law students from Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, N.J., won the Charleston School of Law's second national Moot Court Competition, the final round of which was completed late this afternoon. Other winners:
- Runner up: A team from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Fla.
- Best oral advocate: Ms. Ryan Hart, Seton Hall University School of Law.
- Best written brief: A team from Elon University School of Law in Greensboro, N.C.
Fifteen teams from nine law schools across the country grappled with a constitutional problem specially formulated for the event. This year's issue called for participants to debate the constitutionality of an issue important today in South Carolina -- whether the state should issue "I Believe" license plates that feature a cross. Late last year, a U.S. District Court thwarted a state statute that authorized the plates due to First Amendment considerations.
"There's a lot of energy that goes into this issue around the nation," said Assistant Professor and moot court advisor Miller Shealy, who modified the ruling into a moot court problem. "This is something new in constitutional circles and will probably end up in the U.S. Supreme Court. Because it's so relevant today, participants should have fun debating the issue."
Competitors participating in the two-day event included teams from:
- Appalachian School of Law
- Charlotte School of Law
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
- Duke University School of Law
- Elon University School of Law
- Florida Coastal School of Law
- Mercer University Walter F George School of Law
- New York Law School
- Seton Hall University School of Law
"It's important to host these competitions because it provides students with the kind of environment they'll be in when they're practicing in the real world," Shealy said. "The broad participation we had from across the country is a testament to the growing respect that our school is receiving in academic circles for supporting practical ways for students to learn."
The school plans to have the third competition next February.
- For more information on the Charleston School of Law Moot Court Competition go to www.csolmoot.com.
- More information on the competition: Prof. Miller Shealy
- Or Andy Brack, 843.670.3996