Six students from ΊΪΑΟΙηβs Moot Court team will be competing in the American Moot Court Association nationals competition in early 2024. According to John Rudisill, professor of philosophy at ΊΪΑΟΙη and head coach of the Moot Court team, this is the first year that the National Tournament will be held in two rounds, due to a substantial growth in undergraduate moot court across the country. Four preliminary rounds will be held in January, where each of the three partnerships will compete to qualify for a spot in the final round tournament in February.
The partnership of two of the teamsβ captains, Austin Piatt β24 and Dylynn Lasky β24, qualified out of a regional competition at Mount Saint Maryβs University in Los Angeles, and competed in the preliminary round in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jan. 13 to 14. Alaina Cline β25 and Abigail Reytblat β26, who qualified out of a regional at Indiana University, also competed in Baton Rouge. Emma Jones β25 and Carter Stanley β25, who qualified out of regionals at ΊΪΑΟΙη, will be competing in the preliminary round in Lexington, Kentucky, Jan. 19 to 20.
βWe had three teams qualify for the preliminary rounds of nationals this year, which is an extraordinary accomplishment for the program,β president of the team, Austin Piatt, said. βThose of us who qualified for nationals were among the top 25 percent of competitors in our regional tournaments. We had two teams make it to the βelite eightβ in their regional competitions, and Dylynn and I made it to the βfinal fourβ in our tournament.β
Dylynn Lasky β24, a captain of the team and Piattβs moot partner, said that the team overcame multiple challenges this year. βWe have faced several obstacles this semester ranging from contracting COVID to last minute partnership swaps to barely falling short of national bids,β she said. βHowever, I think the most challenging aspect of Moot Court is the endurance it requires. You only have one shot to qualify for nationals and most of the time you are competing against 32 other partnerships to get that bid. Several months build up to that moment, so sustaining energy and remining resilient can be challenging.β
Piatt also noted that this yearβs team had many new members from the first-year class. βWe had a very young team this year, which is exciting and demonstrates a continued interest in our nationally ranked program,β he said. βYet, as with any organization or team comprised of more new members than old, it wasnβt easy to get the team up and running. That said, I was incredibly impressed by the tenacity and dedication of our new membersβand by just how quickly they adjusted to the demands of Moot Court.β
The Moot Court team captains include Austin Piatt β24, Riley Clever β25, Dylynn Lasky β24, and Alaina Cline β25.
As the two senior captains of the Moot Court team, Piatt and Lasky work together to prepare their teammates for competitions and to create a welcoming environment. βI have forged some of my most meaningful relationships over the last four years with members of the team and could not imagine my ΊΪΑΟΙη experience without them,β Piatt said. βThe kindness, generosity, and friendship extended to me through Moot Court have certainly shaped who I am and how I will enter the professional world.β
While Moot Court is a demanding commitment, Lasky says the strength of the community makes it worth it. βTo be surrounded by a community with a shared passion for skilled argumentation and critical examination of legal issues is rare to come by in undergrad,β she said. βThe people in Moot Court stand out as some of the wisest, most sagacious, and most diligent students I have ever met.β
Featured photo: Austin Piatt β24 and Dylynn Lasky β24 qualified Moot Court Association nationals competition out of a regional competition at Mount Saint Maryβs University in Los Angeles.