FIU Moot Court team advances to national finals

FIU's National Moot Court team captured second place overall and second place Brief honors at the regional round of the National Moot Court Competition in Atlanta, Georgia. The team's performance earned it a berth in the elite, 28-team field that will compete in the final round of the competition in New York City in January 2005.

"This was FIU's first entry in this competition, and it was also the first time in many years that a Florida law school has advanced to the final round in New York," said David Walter, the team's faculty coach. "It may also be the first time that a provisionally accredited law school, in its first year of moot court competition, has advanced to the final round in this competition."

The competition is sponsored by the New York City Bar Association and is the oldest and most prestigious moot court competition in the country. With more than 160 teams from 120 law schools competing, it is also one of the largest competitions. Only the two best teams from each of the 14 regions advance to the finals in New York.

On its way to second place, the FIU team defeated teams from the University of Miami, Florida Coastal, Mercer and Georgia State before dropping the final oral argument to a tough University of Georgia team. The University of Georgia will be joining FIU at the final round competition.

FIU's team is comprised of three third-year students: Bobby Hutson and Britney Green (the team's oralists) and Jennifer Remy (the team's primary brief writer). The team's student coach is Natalie Inchaustegui.

"The results are a great tribute to our students and to the team's coach, David Walter," said College of Law Dean Leonard Strickman.