FIFTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL NATIONAL MOOT COURT COMPETITION

Since 1950, the New York City Bar and the American College of Trial Lawyers have sponsored this National Moot Court Competition. Every year, over 150 law schools compete in the regional rounds throughout the U.S., and the winners advance to the final rounds held at the New York City Bar in Manhattan. This nationally–recognized competition allows law students to hone their appellate advocacy skills by arguing before prominent members of the legal profession.

Each year, the University of Washington School of Law competes in the Northwestern Regional Rounds of the National Moot Court Competition. In 2006-07, the UW selected six individuals (two teams of three) to represent the school in Boise, Idaho. This year’s teams included Heather Bowman (3L), Dustin Buehler (3L), Adam Franklin (3L), Anna Jackson (2L), Candice Tewell (2L) and Aaron Thomson (3L).

In November of 2006, Moot Court Honor Board members Dustin Buehler, Candice Tewell and Aaron Thomson won the Northwestern Regional Tournament, arguing against a talented University of Montana team before the Idaho State Supreme Court in the final. In addition, Buehler, Tewell and Thomson were awarded 1st Place for Best Brief in the Region. Moot Court President Dustin Buehler also took the Award for Best Oral Advocate.

In February of 2007, Buehler, Tewell and Thomson represented the University of Washington at the 57th Annual National Moot Court Competition Final Rounds in Manhattan hosted by the Bar Association of the City of New York. The UW team went 6-0 at Nationals, defeating the University of Creighton, the University of Denver, the University of California Berkeley, New York University, University of Maryland and Texas Wesleyan to win the 2007 National Championship.

In addition to the National Championship, MCHB president Dustin Buehler was awarded the Second Place Speaker in the Nation.

The National Championship is the first ever of its kind for the University of Washington. Overall, Buehler, Tewell and Thomson went 11-0 in appellate rounds in Regionals and Nationals combined. The team would like to thank former UW Moot Court Honor Board members R. Shawn Griggs and Patrick Hinds who, as coaches, have devoted countless hours over the last seven years to establish one of the premier appellate advocacy programs in the Nation.

Watch the National Championship Round LIVE
February 1st, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)

For more information about the National Moot Court Competition please visit http://www.nycbar.org.