The Howard Payne University Moot Court team of Cara Brewer and Lauren Teel took second place at the at Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Association Southwest Regional Championship on November 6 and 7. As finalists in the competition, Brewer and Teel were able to argue their case in front of former U.S. Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales.

The competition was held at Texas Tech University School of Law with a total of 32 teams participating. The HPU team of Robert Davis and Jon Beaubien advanced to quarterfinals within the competition. As a result of their placing within the tournament, both teams have received an automatic bid to compete at the National Tournament held in Miami, Florida in January.

Also competing was the team of Whitney Knabel and Jeremy McNutt, who advanced to the round of 16 at the tournament.

Individual orator awards are awarded to the top ten speakers out of the 64 competitors. Five HPU students took home awards, more than any other school. Those students included: Robert Davis – second place; Cara Brewer – sixth place; Jeremy McNutt – seventh place; Whitney Knabel – eighth place; and Jon Beaubien – tenth place.

Moot Court is simulation of the appeals court process before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Photo by Matthew McNiece (l to r) Jon Beaubien, Robert Davis, Cara Brewer, Lauren Teel and Whitney Knabel.