Moot Court Teams Succeed at National Competitions

February 20, 2006

(l-r) Kelly Johnson, 3L, Professor Danshera Cords, and
Justin Palmer, 2L

Law School Moot Court teams are performing well at regional and national competitions. Capital's Tax Moot Court Team placed third in national competition and the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Team won Best Respondent Brief in the Regional Competition.

Justin Palmer and Kelly Johnson, members of the Tax Moot Court Team, made an outstanding performance at the National Tax Moot Court Competition sponsored by the Florida Bar Association and held Feb. 9-11, 2006 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Palmer and Johnson tied for third place in this national competition, which drew 16 top moot court teams from law schools across the country.

Arguing at times for the IRS and at other times for the taxpayer in the initial, quarter-final, and semi-final rounds, Palmer and Johnson made it to the consolation round. The final round they argued was judged by three United States Tax Court Judges. On their way to the semi-final round, Palmer and Johnson competed and won against teams from Duquesne University Law School and Syracuse University Law School.

Professor Danshera Cords, who coached the team, said "All of the judges were impressed with their facility with the facts and law related to an incredibly difficult tax problem. Justin, Kelly, and all of us should be proud of their achievement."

l-to-r: Lisa Watson, Nicole Howard-Jahi, Karee Laing, Lindsay Ford, and Professor Floyd Weatherspoon; right: award for best respondent brief.

Law students Lindsay Ford, Lisa Watson, Nicole Howard-Jahi and Karee Laing performed excellently at the January 2006 Midwest Regional Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition in Madison, Wisconsin. They competed against 23 teams.

The team of Ford and Watson advanced to the quarter finals. They missed advancing to the semi-finals round by less than a point. Their brief was scored the highest among all respondent's briefs. They brought home a first place trophy and scholarship money.

Sponsored by Thompson Hine LLP, the team was coached by Professor Floyd Weatherspoon. Associate Dean and Professor Shirley Mays accompanied the students to the competition. Mays said, "The students exhibited poise and confidence, were well-prepared, made good use of case law and showed a thorough knowledge of the record. I'm proud of them."

The problem addressed by competing teams posed the legal question of a white male bringing a reverse discrimination case suit based on an affirmative action plan.