Moot Court team ranks in top 16 at nationals

The Liberty University School of Law Moot Court team competed in the American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition National Finals in Chicago, Ill., April 12-14. Liberty qualified by winning its regional bracket in Washington, D.C., in March.

At the national tournament, Liberty won its first preliminary round against Louisiana State University before losing to perennial powerhouse Texas Tech University. Based on its win/loss record and narrow margin of loss, Liberty qualified for the next round, placing them in the top 16 (out of 209 teams). The team then lost to top-ranked University of California Hastings College of the Law on a split judges’ ballot.

This marks the fourth consecutive year Liberty has qualified for the National Finals and the third time to post a top 16 finish.

Moot Court coach Scott Thompson said the team performed “at an extremely high level.”

“Our loss in the elimination rounds at nationals was one of the best rounds that I have ever watched. We knew that it would be very close and it was,” he said. “Throughout the week, we prayed that each of us would glorify God through our arguments, attitude and demeanor. They did exactly that. Liberty is recognized as a school that competes at the national level and is well respected by its colleagues in the moot court arena.”

At the regional championship, the team of Mark Hicks, Jeremy White and Phillip Marbury posted wins over Regent University, the University of Richmond, George Mason University and the University of Arkansas. Their only loss came in an early preliminary round to Washington & Lee University.

Earlier this year, two teams from Liberty University School of Law competed at the Leroy R. Hassell, Sr. National Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition at Regent University, winning a first-place honor and several awards. Read the full story here.

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