Holy Cross Moot Court Program

Moot Court is appellate argument. Unlike Mock Trial which emphasizes legal procedure, strategy decisions, and clarity of presentation, Moot Court tests substantive law. Students must master the nexus of dozens of cases and be able to answer to judges who challenge their application of legal rules or principles.

2005:

A team from Holy Cross finished second in the nation at the National Moot Court Competition in Dallas TX. Erin Robert '06 and Liz Letak '06 placed second for the second year in a row. A team of Scott Shand '06 and John Larson '05 and a team of Stephen Meahl '07 and Michael Collins '07 also competed in the competition.

This years case involved the 4th amendment right to legal searches, and also the principle of qualified immunity.

2004:

Holy Cross Moot Court teams recently placed second and fifth in the National Moot Court Competition, making them among the top competitors in the nation. This was the College’s first time entering a Moot Court competition.

The second place team included Elizabeth Letak ’06, a Chinese language and religious studies major from Plymouth Minn., and Erin Robert ’06, a political science major from Broad Brook, Conn. The fifth place team included M. Cecilia Kelly ’04, a political science major from Rye, N.Y., and John O’Donnell ’04, a political science major from South Boston, Mass.

In the same competition, the sophomore Moot Court team recorded a trial record of 6-1 and the senior team had a record of 4-1.

Sixty-two teams from around the country entered this year’s competition, which was hosted by the University of Texas-Arlington from Jan. 29 – Feb. 1, 2004.