Howard Payne University’s Moot Court team competed in two tournaments in the fall. During a competition, students are given a problem with constitutional issues to determine. This year, there were two major constitutional issues to argue – the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and the Free Speech clause of the First Amendment. The students must read 20 legal cases and develop constitutional arguments for both sides. Then, they argue before a panel of judges, similar to a Supreme Court case where the judges ask the competitors legal questions directly.
In October, they competed at Colorado Christian University, where senior jurisprudence and Guy D. Newman Honors Academy majors Amber Williams and Sadie Willie placed in the top 16. In December, the Moot Court team competed at the American Moot Court Association Regional Tournament at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Katelynn Turner, junior history and Academy major, placed 20th out of 60 competitors in the individual category. Amber Williams and Sadie Willie made it to the octo-finals (top 16). Alli Harvey, senior jurisprudence and Academy major, also participated.
“This is a great experience for our students,” said Kenan Boland, assistant professor of government. “We are proud of how they represented HPU this year.”
Moot Court will be offered in fall 2025 for any students that are interested. Teams will be traveling out of state and in state for competitions. Students do not have to be pre-law majors or Academy majors to participate.
“There are speaking opportunities and it’s fun, but also a lot of work,” said Boland. “There are also scholarships available for those who participate.”
For more information about Moot Court at HPU, please visit www.hputx.edu/mootcourt.