Bringing in another win
Liberty University Law School secured another victory at court
Liberty University School of Law Moot Court team recently competed, bringing home another win — this time, from Washington, D.C. Consisting of six members, the team competed in the American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition, the most prestigious of all competitions.
Law — Liberty’s moot court team qualifies for national tournament. Photo provided
This year, 211 teams competed for a spot at the national championships. The teams were divided into six regions, with four or five teams advancing from each region. Liberty competed with 38 other teams in the Washington, D.C. region. By the end of the competition, five teams advanced to the national championships, including a team from Liberty.
Regional champions Mark Hicks, Jeremy White and Phillip Marbury will travel to Chicago in April for the national tournament. At the Washington, D.C. competition, White was awarded second best oralist and Hicks eighth best oralist in the tournament. Overall, the team finished with a 4-1 record, beating out teams from Richmond, Regent, George Mason and Arkansas. Their only loss came from Washington and Lee on brief score.
The other three members of the team — Dustin Gaines, Jennifer Gregorin and Dan Schmid — advanced into the regional semi-final round before being eliminated. Gaines and Gregorin finished with a 2-2 record, beating out Southern Illinois and Regent, but lost to American University and Cleveland State University.
Director at the Center for Lawyering Skills Scott Thompson and Dean Lindevaldsen traveled with the team to the Washington, D.C. competition.
“Dean Lindevaldsen and I were extremely pleased with the way both teams argued and conducted themselves throughout the tournament,” Thompson said. “Each of the competitors represented the Lord and the school with distinction and dignity. They also extended our tradition of excellence at this tournament specifically.”
Thompson said this tournament marks four years in a row that at least one of the teams from Liberty has qualified for the national tournament.
White, who will be one of three members traveling to Chicago next month, shared about how this competition proved to be tougher.
“The combination of current medical issues and complicated medicaid regulations involved made this year’s problem very challenging to master, and yet incredibly exciting to argue. It’s thrilling to be part of such a great team of competitors and coaches.”
Semi-finalist Daniel Schmid noted that the case topics of the competition were especially difficult this time around.
“It was a privilege and an honor to watch Mark, Jeremy, Dustin and Jennifer argue at the tournament. All of them are extremely impressive advocates, and their oral argument skills were unquestionably second to none at the event,” Schmid said.
The topics that were presented involved a complicated case of statutory interpretation involving Federal Medicaid law and state regulations that govern the treatment and insurance coverage for those suffering from autism.
Thompson will be traveling to Chicago with Hicks, White and Marbury for the National Moot Court Championship on April 12-14.