All Rise
Ohio Wesleyan Students Showcase Legal Skills at Regional Moot Court Competitions
Twelve Ohio Wesleyan University students participated in regional competitions this fall sponsored by the American Moot Court Association (AMCA), with OWU's Jaelyn Cooper earning the team's highest finish and ranking among the Top 30 orators at the Akron Law Regional Tournament.
The team of Cooper, a junior from Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and Isabel Milner, a junior from Riverton, Utah, went 2-1 in the preliminary rounds of the competition, breaking into the Round of 16 and finishing in ninth place overall.
Three teams of Bishops competed in the tournament, held at the University of Akron School of Law, and three additional teams competed in the Capital Classic Regional Tournament, held at Capital University Law School.
The students were coached by Ohio Wesleyan graduate Katie Berger, Class of 2016. She competed in moot court throughout her time at the University, earning several top orator awards and a Top-5 finish at the AMCA's National Championship Tournament in her senior year.
"I was incredibly impressed by this year's group of students," said Berger, who earned her juris doctorate from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where she continued to compete in moot court competitions and championships.
"The students were eager to learn and participate in nuanced discussions of complicated legal principles, even though many had never been exposed to the law in this way before," she said. "They supported each other throughout the semester and at competition, where teams that had been eliminated still observed and cheered on their classmates who broke into later rounds. Ultimately, the full team of students excelled at collaboration and mutual support, creating a positive environment where everyone felt safe to ask questions and overcome challenges."
In addition to Cooper and Milner, competing in Akron were the two-person teams of Rin Anderson, a senior from Highland Park, Illinois, and Candi Bowman, a senior from Marion, Ohio; and Kyle Barnes, a junior from Painesville, Ohio, and Caitlin Calvin, a senior from Prospect, Ohio. Barnes and Calvin also broke into the Round of 16 and finished in 16th place in the regional tournament.
In the Capital Classic, OWU's teams were Katie Strickland, a sophomore from Findlay, Ohio, and Rahnney Woodfork, a sophomore from Hilliard, Ohio; Zach Hertzberg, a sophomore from Cedar Park, Texas; and James Hammel, a sophomore from Hallam, Pennsylvania; and Vincent Sack, a junior from North Olmsted, Ohio, and Heath Miller, a junior from Ottawa, Ohio. Sack and Miller placed in the Top 24 teams, and Sack placed among the Top 40 orators. Jacob Dougher, a senior from Willowick, Ohio, also participated in moot court this season, writing a brief instead of competing.
The moot court tournaments simulate an appellate court oral argument in which students present legal arguments and respond to questions from judges. Nearly 1,000 students from universities and colleges nationwide compete in tournaments from October through January.
The OWU students began preparing over the summer. Then, during the summer and fall, they reviewed caselaw, constructed arguments for both sides of the issues, practiced delivering their presentations, and worked on responding to questions.
This year's primary case concerned whether a university's admission policy giving preferential weight to female applicants violated the U.S. Constitution's Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and the 1st Amendment.
"Moot court is incredibly valuable, and not just for students who want to go to law school or prepare for a legal career," said Berger, who practiced business and tort litigation for five years in the Columbus office of an international law firm before becoming a law clerk for a federal district court judge.
"By participating in moot court, students develop and practice critical thinking, writing, and oral advocacy skills while also building confidence and professionalism," she said. "Students learn effective time-management strategies and how to work well with others in a team setting. Moot court challenges students to analyze nuanced legal issues, evaluate arguments, and anticipate counterarguments. This problem-solving mindset can be applied to various different careers or professional aspirations."
Students interested in joining Ohio Wesleyan's moot court team should contact Berger at ktberger@owu.edu.