Fordham School of Law Wins Regional Moot Court Competition at the City Bar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kathryn Inman
(212) 382-6656

Fordham School of Law Wins Regional Moot Court Competition at the New York City Bar Association

New York, November 16, 2012 – Fordham University School of Law won the regional rounds of the 63rd Annual National Moot Court Competition, which took place November 14–15 at the New York City Bar Association. The winning team consisted of Danielle Austin, Peter Bryce and Michael Keough.

New York University Law School, represented by Debra McElligott and Justin Roller, took second-place honors. Both teams will advance to the final rounds in early 2013. Thirty winning and runner-up teams from 15 regions across the United States will compete in the final rounds of the competition, January 28–31, at the City Bar.

Best Brief honors went to the Seton Hall University School of Law team, composed of Christopher B. Fontenelli and Katie M. McDonough. Runner-up Best Brief was awarded to Pace University School of Law, whose team consisted of Eliza Ciccone, Paul Rutigliano, and Amy Witowski. Best Oralist was awarded to Michael Keough of Fordham University, with runner-up honors going to Debra McElligott of New York University.

This year, the competition presented two issues of great constitutional importance. The first issue implicates the First Amendment and considers the extent to which a person may videotape the police during the course of their duties. The second issue arises under the Fourth Amendment and addresses the circumstances under which the police may conduct a warrantless search of a person’s cell phone.
 
Judges on the final bench were Hon. Philip Straniere, Hon. Andrea Masley, Hon. Eileen Nadelson, James Herschlein, and C. Evan Stewart. The competition is co-sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Young Lawyers Committee of the New York City Bar Association.

About the Association
The New York City Bar Association (www.nycbar.org), since its founding in 1870, has been dedicated to maintaining the high ethical standards of the profession, promoting reform of the law and providing service to the profession and the public.  The Association continues to work for political, legal and social reform, while implementing innovative means to help the disadvantaged.  Protecting the public’s welfare remains one of the Association’s highest priorities.