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January 24, 2006

Moot Court

Teams don’t finish on top

UTA’s teams didn’t place high in the national event but will compete in Baylor and Vienna.

Story by: Elizabeth White

Contributor to The Shorthorn

UTA’s three moot court teams were kept out of the top 32 this weekend at the national moot court tournament.

This year, 72 teams from schools across the country competed in the simulated appellate court, and Virginia’s Patrick Henry College team won the contest.

“Even if they didn’t win a trophy, [the UTA students] benefited from participating,” moot court coach Charles Knerr said.

In the contest, students argue a case in front of a panel of judges. Each team has 20 minutes to present one side of a fictional case concerning constitutional law.

This year’s issues were free speech and the establishment clause, which prevent Congress from making any law respecting an establishment of religion. This was the sixth year the university hosted the national tournament.

Faith Collins, modern languages junior and competitor, said the tournament has helped prepare her for her future in international law. This was her second competition.

“It is a huge advantage to participate in moot court as an undergraduate,” she said. “It’s a good self-confidence builder, and you get to travel around like the sports teams.”

William Kinsley, political science sophomore and Collins’ teammate, said it’s good practice for law school and looks good on admissions applications.

“It’s a great way to learn public speaking and analytical arguments,” he said.

Andrew Sommerman, tournament director and local attorney, funds the UTA teams. He donates about $10,000 a year to cover the team’s fees and provides scholarships to students who compete. He said his firm has hired 48 UTA alumni over the years.

The UTA teams will participate in two more competitions this semester, one at Baylor University and the other in Vienna, Austria. In Vienna, the team will be the first non-law-school team to compete internationally.

Most of the judges for this contest were either UTA alumni or notable judges from local circuit courts.

“I wish I’d had this 30 years ago, it might have made me a better lawyer — but I might not have lasted past the first round,” said Judge John Cayce, a UTA alumnus and chief justice of Texas’ 2nd Court of Appeals.

CORRECTION

William Kinsley should have been identified as a political science junior.