Harlan Fiske Stone
Moot Court Competition
Moot Court Competition
April 12, 2010, 4:20 - 6:20 p.m.
Jerome Greene Hall, rooms 104 & 106
Jerome Greene Hall, rooms 104 & 106
Columbia Law School's Moot Court Program is made possible by the generous support of
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
The Court
The Honorable Sandra L. Lynch
Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
The Right Honourable Lord Collins of Mapesbury '65 LL.M.
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The Honorable Robert D. Sack '63
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Finalists
Geoffrey Cajigas '11
Counsel for Appellant
Mina Nasseri '10
Counsel for Appellant
Evie Spanos '11
Counsel for Appellee
Philip Gary '10
Counsel for Appellee
Professor Philip Genty
Director, Moot Court Program
A Note From Brittney Pescatore
Director and Case Author
Judging the Stone Moot Court competition was a real treat. The issues were interesting and the competitors were polished and engaging. I relished the opportunity to play a small part in helping such talented students learn the ropes of appellate advocacy.
This has been a great opportunity to use what I’ve learned in the classroom and to apply my own personality and legal style to lawyering techniques.
I enjoy the process of marshalling evidence and reason in the service of a case.
Working so closely with other students and faculty, moot court competitions are a great community-building activity.
I enjoy having to think on my feet. Over the course of the competition, I’ve learned that if you know the material and are thoroughly prepared, you can address any question and advocate for your client.
One of the best parts of this competition is the interaction with the practicing professionals who serve as the judges and the chance to respond to their challenges in the courtroom.
I especially wanted to participate this year because the problem is so interesting and topical. It deals with fundamental constitutional issues such as freedom of expression and discrimination, in this case based on gender.
The Stone Moot Court is a rigorous experience that gives students excellent preparation in brief-craft and oral advocacy. Whether they pursue litigation or another career path, the skills they gain in legal writing and arguing before a bench will serve them well.