Eastern Michigan took home top honors in the American Moot Court national tournament finals that were held January 17-18 at the Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, La.
Two Eastern Michigan University students, Kelsey Hall, a senior, and Charles Graham, a junior, emerged as the top team in the nation. The two political science majors won overwhelmingly, sweeping all five first place votes from the five judges.
The national competition began earlier this month, with close to 500 universities and colleges ranging from large institutions to small liberal arts colleges in the U.S. and Canada seeking to advance. EMU topped teams from Yale, Duke, the University of Virginia, Michigan State, Baylor, the University of Chicago, and the University of Southern California among others.
"This was no small feat," said Barry Pyle, an EMU political science professor and coach of the EMU moot court and mock trial teams. "This is a very big deal. We are one of a very few public universities to ever win this title."
Graham said that he and his teammates knew after the first day of competition that they had an opportunity to make a run for the national championship.
"We knew we were being overlooked and underestimated," he said. "What really set us apart from the other competitors was our presentation skills, which really went over well with the judges in that area."
Graham, an Ann Arbor native with plans to attend law school, said that the team is extremely proud to bring the first national championship in moot court to the state of Michigan and to EMU.
"Our goal was to prove to the country that we don't attend Eastern Michigan because we are less talented or less intelligent, but rather because it provides opportunities for us, such as being able to compete in moot court and mock trial.
"The level of attention I would've received if I had decided to attend a different university pales in comparison to the attention that professors such as Dr. Pyle have given me."
Hall, who is from Pinckney, seconded Graham's assessment.
"Dr. Pyle has put his life on hold many times for our mock trial and moot court program," she said. "I cannot imagine where I would be if not for him. This opportunity would not have been possible without Dr. Pyle."
In addition to the national title, Graham also captured honors as the third best orator in the nation, and Monica Laschober, a senior and junior Nicholas Suchezky, both political science majors, received recognition for producing the sixth best written brief in the country. Avery Wright and Blake Mullican competed at their first national tournament and did "extremely well," Pyle said.
Pyle serves as co-coach along with C. Robert Dombroski, a former student of his and a local attorney. Together, they've experienced success over the last six years in leading EMU's teams in mock trail and moot court competitions. David Klein, a professor of political science and department head, also serves as an assistant coach.
Moot court simulates appellate court hearings. Students prepare arguments and make oral arguments as they compete while a group of judges serve as active participants, repeatedly questioning the students. The biggest challenge for students is to answer the judges effectively. Through engaging in simulations in competition with teams from other institutions, students develop critical thinking and public speaking skills, as well as a knowledge of legal practices and procedures.
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It serves nearly 18,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences, and professions.
Published: Wed, Feb 05, 2020
