Wooster's Moot Court Team turns in Record-Setting Performance at Nationals

Left to Right: James Owens, former Attorney General John Ashcroft, Michael McMaster, and Dean of the Regent University School of Law Jeffrey Brauch.

WOOSTER, Ohio - The College of Wooster's moot court team reached a major milestone by advancing to the championship round of the American Collegiate Moot Court Association (ACMA) National Tournament for the first time in its five-year history. The competition, which was held Jan. 18-19 at Regent University Law School in Virginia Beach, featured 64 teams of students from colleges and universities across the country.

"I was very pleased with our success this year," said Mark Weaver, professor of political science and coach of Wooster's Moot Court Team. "Eight Wooster teams - the maximum allowed by ACMA rules - competed at the national tournament after qualifying at the Midwest Regional Tournament last December."

The competitors at the national tournament had to argue both sides of a hypothetical case that concerned the National Security Agency's warrantless surveillance program, which has recently been modified by the Bush administration. The students argued in two-person teams, with one individual focusing on the question of whether the President has the authority under Article 2 of the Constitution and the Authorization for the Use of Military Force to authorize the NSA's warrantless surveillance of American citizens. The other team member argued the question of whether the NSA's surveillance of American citizens violates the Fourth Amendment and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

In the three preliminary rounds, four Wooster teams advanced to the finals. James Owens and Michael McMaster led the way by beating eight teams. In the championship round, they argued before a distinguished panel of judges, presided over by former Attorney General John Ashcroft. In the final round, they were defeated in a close 3-2 vote.

In addition to Owens and McMaster, the team of Lauren Mogavero and Jeff Kaatz advanced through the round of 16 to the "Elite Eight," becoming ACMA All-Americans. No Wooster team had previously advanced beyond the Elite Eight, but Owens and McMaster broke through, won their semi-final match, and finished as the second place undergraduate moot court team in the United States.

"The high caliber of the competition at this year's National Tournament makes our finish all the more significant," said Owens. "We are very proud to have been a part of such a strong Wooster team."

"Moot Court has been a fantastic experience," added McMaster. "Coach Mark Weaver, along with many local attorneys, judges, and the Wayne County Bar Association, provided invaluable help in preparing us for the national tournament."

Three Wooster students won All-American honors by finishing among the Top 10 Orators at the national tournament. Abigail Kline finished sixth; Anne Leigh placed seventh; and Owens wound up 10th. "This success in individual honors was another indicator of the strength of this year's team," said Weaver. "Wooster had never before had more than one individual finish among the top 10 orators at a national tournament."

Two Wooster teams captured All-American honors in the brief writing competition. Mogavero and Kaatz placed second in Brief for Petitioner, and Eric Roscoe and Lauren Schreur took second in Brief for Respondent.

"I think one of the reasons we've had so much success at the national tournament over the last few years is because we get along so well as a team," said Schreur, one of the team's co-captains. "The fact that we have all become good friends on the team makes all the work and preparation more enjoyable. I'm very proud of everyone on the team, their hard work, and their dedication this year."

The other teams competing for Wooster were Anne Leigh and Steven Schott; Cameron MacLeod and Robert Dible; Michael Doerr and Deborah Coffman; Kline and Matthew Jensen; and Andrew Gross and Katharine McCarthy.

"The Wooster Moot Court Team is a demanding forensics activity that is sponsored by the Pre-Law Advising Program and the Wayne County Bar Association," said Hank Kreuzman, professor of philosophy and chair of the Pre-Law Advising Program at Wooster. "Professor Weaver has done an exceptional job building the moot court program. He has brought a passion to the program that has stimulated students to excel in this challenging intercollegiate competition."