UGA REACHES SEMIFINALS OF REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL MOOT COURT COMPETITION, WINS BEST BRIEF AND INDIVIDUAL ORALIST HONORS

Abstract

Wednesday, February 19, 1997

WRITER: Kathy R. Pharr, (706) 542-5172

CONTACT: Richard Ford, (706) 542-5123

UGA REACHES SEMIFINALS OF REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL MOOT COURT COMPETITION, WINS BEST BRIEF AND INDIVIDUAL ORALIST HONORS

ATHENS, Ga. -- The University of Georgia School of Law advanced to the semifinals of the Southeast Region of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Competition February 14-15 in Miami, capturing the Best Brief Award and two top oralist honors.

UGA was represented by a team of second-year students: Cameron Fogle, Kimberley Hale, Leigh Martin, and Michael McCabe. Third-year student Clay Jones served as brief editor, and the team was coached by third-year student Christy Calbos.

Martin was named First Runner-up Best Oralist and McCabe was named Second Runner-up Best Oralist. The team's top brief now advances to the international rounds in Washington, where it will be judged alongside other best briefs from around the world in the Dillard Best Brief Competition.

The UGA team faced Stetson, Pennsylvania, Florida, and St. Thomas in the preliminary rounds, and emerged from those matches as the number one seed in the semifinals. However, in a close match, UGA fell to Emory.

"I am very proud of the students' hard work and dedication," said Moot Court Advisor Richard Ford. "They did everything they needed to do to win, and it paid off with the recognition they received -- awards for Best Brief and top oralist honors."

Students argued a hypothetical appellate court case concerning a custody dispute between two countries: one had rescued 400 children from death in a volcanic eruption in the neighboring country, but refused to return the children a year later because they had already been adopted by its own citizens.

Teams from the University of Georgia have a proven record of success in such high-level moot court tournaments. In the Jessup Competition, UGA has won four national titles and one international championship in the last decade. Last month, UGA won its second championship of the 1990s in the National Moot Court Competition, the oldest and most prestigious moot court tournament in the country. UGA also won the national title in 1992, reached the semifinals in 1994, and placed second in the National Competition last year. The University of Georgia holds the record as the only law school in the nation to have reached the quarterfinals of the National Moot Court Competition for seven consecutive years.

The UGA moot court program next competes in the invitation-only William B. Spong Competition, held this weekend at the College of William and Mary. In the past three years, UGA has won the Spong championship (1994); won Best Brief and reached the Final Four (1995); and won Best Oralist and reached the quarterfinals (1996).

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