MSU Law Places 2nd in Niagara International Competition
Michigan State University College of Law third-year students Jason Bart, Dustin Kamerman, and Chelsey Winchell and second-year student Emma Gardiner took second place in the Niagara International Moot Court Competition, February 20–22, 2014, in Washington, DC.
Thirteen law schools competed in the competition, including teams from American University Washington College of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Queen’s University Faculty of Law, and Western Ontario Faculty of Law.
The Canada–United States Law Institute administers the Niagara International Moot Court Competition, an international law moot that draws teams from law schools in Canada and the United States. The competition alternately takes place in Washington, DC, or Toronto, Canada.
Participating teams address a hypothetical dispute affecting the bi-lateral relationship before the International Court of Justice. The 2013–14 Niagara Moot Court Problem, “Case Concerning The Oscar Wilde” focused on the international status of same sex marriages and the paying of ransom to terrorist groups.
Attorneys from both the United States and Canada who judged the teams this year included a former Ambassador to Belgium and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood. The final round panel included R. Richard Newcomb, DLA Piper Chair of the International Practice Group and former director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department known as OFAC. OFAC was a major consideration in this year’s problem. Other final round judges were Davis Robinson, senior counsel of Crowell & Moring in Washington, DC, and Professor Chi Carmody of University of Western Ontario School of Law, the author of this year’s problem.
The team was coached by MSU Law Professor John Reifenberg and Reference Librarian Janet Ann Hedin.
“We especially would like to thank MSU Law Professors Bruce Bean, Jennifer Carter-Johnson, Jennifer Copland, Michele Halloran, Kevin Kennedy, Brian Pappas, Phil Pucillo, Glen Staszewski, attorney and alumni Reshma Sambare as well as members of the MSU Law Jessup Team and the Michigan State International Law Review for their assistance and support of the team,” said Hedin.
Last updated: March 21, 2014
