Tulane Law Moot Court Team Earns Third Consecutive Trip to The Hague
It’s a hat trick for the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appellate Moot Court team, who are headed to the international round of the International Bar Association’s Moot Court Tournament for the third year in a row.
Their success in the North American regional round of the competition at the Pace University Elizabeth Haub School of Law will take them all the way to The Hague this June. The team, comprised of 2Ls Caitlin Roder, Claire Jones, and Jack Mason, was coached by 3Ls Haley Dykstra, Emma Luke, and Selin Ferhangil. Their coaches are seasoned veterans of the competition, having competed on last year’s team.
“The ICC team continues to make us proud with their hard work and dedication to this program,” Moot Court Chief Justice Cami Pyne said. “We are unbelievably proud of them and look forward to supporting them in The Hague.”
The IBA ICC Moot Court Competition offers students a hands-on simulation of the International Criminal Court, where they confront complex legal issues considered to be the “gravest crimes of concern” on the international scale, including war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. This year’s case involves a sitting Head of State accused of a war crime for ordering a naval blockade that impeded the delivery of essential medical aid. Competitors are challenged to navigate the ICC’s jurisprudence regarding jurisdiction, the substantive crimes themselves, and procedural defects in drafting their briefs and presenting their oral arguments. Last year’s team advanced to the quarterfinals and placed 14th among 88 teams globally.
The team’s success was matched by impressive individual performances.
“Tulane’s team goes above and beyond traditional appellate competition expectations,” Pyne noted. “Each competitor takes on the task of writing their own appellate brief and arguing it individually.” The team’s Prosecution Brief, authored by Roder, and the team’s Defense Brief, authored by Mason, both earned the first place award in their respective categories. Additionally, Mason was awarded Best Defense Advocate and Jones was awarded Second Best Government’s Counsel Advocate.
With their combination of skill, dedication, and teamwork, the ICC Moot Court team continues to shine on the world stage, demonstrating the power of hard work and Tulane Law’s commitment to preparing the next generation of international advocates.
