School of Law competition teams headed to nationals

The Liberty University School of Law Moot Court and Mediation teams are headed to nationals after winning regional competitions against top schools.

The Moot Court team of Zach Hurt, Justin Reddington, and Reed Marbury were named regional champions on Feb. 28 at the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition after defeating teams from Ohio State, Loyola University Chicago, and Emory University. They will represent Liberty in April at the National Appellate Advocacy Competition in Chicago, Ill., April 9-10.

This win marks the sixth time that the team has advanced to nationals.

The team’s coach, law professor Scott Thompson, said the Moot Court program has had “unparalleled” success this year.

“In each of the five tournaments that we have competed in, we have earned either a first or second place team award, or an individual best performance award,” Thompson said. “Our teams have practiced and prepared for these tournaments, and every competitor has given phenomenal effort to have achieved these results.”

The Mediation team will also be advancing to nationals in Seattle, Wash., April 15-18, after winning the regional ABA Representation in Gainesville, Fla., on Feb. 24.

The team of Alexandra Hubbard and Hope Whitehead defeated teams from the University of Buffalo, University of Florida, and George Mason University to advance to the finals.

The team’s coach, law professor Basyle Tchividjian, said Liberty’s team gave their best performance at regionals.

“I look forward to watching our students use that same skill and hard work this April when they compete at nationals, and I will not be at all surprised if they come home as national champions,” he said. “More important than winning, the team demonstrated great talent and skill with incredibly humble spirits and joyful hearts.”