Two Michigan State College of Law moot court teams achieved big wins this past weekend (Feb. 15-17) during the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition in Las Vegas. BOTH teams were undefeated throughout the competition, winning their respective final rounds, and advancing to ABA nationals as the top seeded teams in the Las Vegas competition.
The team with 2Ls Joe Greene, Reem Albudoor, and Nicholas Langenberg won second-place brief, and Reem was recognized as 4th highest-scoring overall speaker. On the team with 2L Nichole Gertsen and 3Ls Alex Armstrong and Cassie O’Hagan, Alex was recognized as 8th highest-scoring overall speaker. The Las Vegas regional included 32 teams and over 70 oralists.
The 2023-24 ABA moot court problem involves arguments on a hypothetical Supreme Court case debating conflicting issues of statutory interpretation. The first issue concerns a contentious practice known as “snap removal,” and the second debates whether the right of publicity is covered by an immunity carveout in the Communications Decency Act.
The teams feel that the support they offered to one another was a significant factor contributing to their success. “We all really had each other’s backs,” Nicholas Langenberg said. His sentiment was echoed by team member Joe Greene: “Travelling to Las Vegas and competing alongside my fellow classmates was an unforgettable experience. The success had by everyone was just the cherry on top. It is so wonderful that Michigan State puts such a high value on something so incredible.”
“This was an amazing group to work with," said Professor and Moot Court Director Jennifer Copland, who coached the teams in Las Vegas. "Winning, of course, is nice, but seeing these students gain confidence and improve their skills was incredibly rewarding. They all worked hard, and worked together as a cooperative team, and I could not be more proud of them."
Both teams would like to thank Professor Phil Pucillo, who acted as a co-coach prior to the competition, as well as the many alumni, professors, and Board of Advocates students who assisted with practices in preparation for the regionals. Now, the teams will advance to the ABA National Championships, which are scheduled to take place in Philadelphia April 4-6.