First-year law students earn surprising moot court victory

First-year law students earn surprising moot court victoryApril 16, 2003Cynthia J. Moritzcjmoritz@syr.edu

A team of first-year students from the Syracuse University College of Law placed first in the Toronto International Law Moot Court Competition for the first time since 1993. Team member Michael Panton also won an honorable mention in the Distinguished Oralist category. Opponents included Cornell University, University of Buffalo and the University of Toronto, among others.

“This is an especially remarkable achievement because we are the only team that researches its own briefs and actually learns the international law that is to be argued,” says Donna E. Arzt, Bond, Schoeneck & King Distinguished Professor of Law and co-director of the Center for Global Law & Practice at the College of Law. “Moreover, due to mid-term exams and spring break, the team had less time than the usual two full weeks to practice.”

Arzt aided lecturer Lucille Rignanese in coaching the team.

Members of the team were Panton, Karen Hanks, Katerina Wolfe, Jenna White, Swati Desai, Daniele DeVoe, Kristoffer Kiefer and Matt Phelan. Alternates were Leah Bills, David Nefouse, Claudine Landry and Melinda Schumacher.