Two LU moot court teams advance to quarterfinals at regional tournament
November 19, 2021 | by Shelbe Rodriguez
Two Lamar University moot court teams have advanced to the elimination rounds in the University of Texas at Dallas Invitational Moot Court Tournament on Nov. 12-13.
The Moot is a competition that involves two student advocates engaging in simulated legal arguments before a hypothetical appellate court reviewing a fictitious case. Students work together in teams to construct legal arguments and based on preliminary round showings teams advance to elimination rounds. Students are evaluated on knowledge of the facts of the case, the case law, presentation skills and courtroom demeanor. Student advocates also receive speaker awards based on their individual scores. After preliminary rounds, the top 16 seeded teams advance to elimination rounds.
Due to COVID-19, all student teams competed virtually through Zoom. Three LU teams competed, but based on their preliminary rounds results, the team of Maissa Salibi and Gillean Vandiver was ranked No.11 in the tournament. Novice team Katie Rice and Kaylee Goodspeed was ranked No.15 in the tournament.
Lamar University participants:
Aaron Martinez, senior political science major, legal studies minor, criminal justice minor
Aven Lathrop, senior criminal justice major
Gillean Vandiver, junior political science major, legal studies minor
Maissa Salibi, junior political science major, legal studies minor
Katie Rice, junior political science major, legal studies minor
Kaylee Goodspeed, junior psychology major, legal studies minor
The Moot is a competition that involves two student advocates engaging in simulated legal arguments before a hypothetical appellate court reviewing a fictitious case. Students work together in teams to construct legal arguments and based on preliminary round showings teams advance to elimination rounds. Students are evaluated on knowledge of the facts of the case, the case law, presentation skills and courtroom demeanor. Student advocates also receive speaker awards based on their individual scores. After preliminary rounds, the top 16 seeded teams advance to elimination rounds.
Due to COVID-19, all student teams competed virtually through Zoom. Three LU teams competed, but based on their preliminary rounds results, the team of Maissa Salibi and Gillean Vandiver was ranked No.11 in the tournament. Novice team Katie Rice and Kaylee Goodspeed was ranked No.15 in the tournament.
Lamar University participants:
Aaron Martinez, senior political science major, legal studies minor, criminal justice minor
Aven Lathrop, senior criminal justice major
Gillean Vandiver, junior political science major, legal studies minor
Maissa Salibi, junior political science major, legal studies minor
Katie Rice, junior political science major, legal studies minor
Kaylee Goodspeed, junior psychology major, legal studies minor