January 21, 2010 – The Howard Payne University Moot Court team comprised of seniors Cara Brewer and Lauren Teel recently advanced to the Round of 16 at the American Collegiate Moot Court Association National Tournament. This places them in the top 6% of all moot court competitors.

Brewer and Teel qualified for nationals through several regional competitions with the Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Association. During their final qualifying round last fall, they had the opportunity to argue before former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

They were one of two HPU teams that qualified to compete at the national tournament. The second team of junior Robert Davis and senior Jon Beaubien placed 50th in the competition, ranking them in the top 20% of moot court competitors nation-wide. Additionally, HPU students Whitney Knabel and Jeremy McNutt qualified as the first alternate.

The ACMCA reached its highest level of participation this year with over 250 teams vying for one of the coveted 64 slots at the national tournament, which was held at Florida International University College of Law in Miami.

According to Mandy Locker, assistant professor of criminal justice, “The fact that we had two teams qualify for the tournament, and a third team qualify as the first alternate, speaks volumes about our students and our program.”

Students qualifying for nationals came from institutions including Patrick Henry College, Baylor University, the College of Wooster, the University of North Texas, Drake University and others.

Moot Court is simulation of the appeals court process before the U.S. Supreme Court.  This year’s cases examined fourth and eighth amendment rights.

Photo contributed by Mandy Locker: Seniors Cara Brewer (left) and Lauren Teel (right) advanced to the Round of 16 at the American Collegiate Moot Court Association National Tournament held in Miami, Florida.