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REGENT UNIVERSITY MOOT COURT BOARD APRIL 2012

2011-2012 Moot Court Board

Dear Moot Court Board

Alumni & Friends,

On behalf of the 2011-12 Moot Court

Board, I am so thankful for your support

and encouragement over this past year. I

cannot believe another year is already

coming to a close. It was a privilege and

an honor to serve as Chairman of this in-

credible Board.

Our goal was to continue the tradition

of servant leadership in the Regent Law

community and to glorify God with excel-

lence in appellate advocacy. God blessed

our efforts through continued growth in the

competitions we hosted here at Regent.

We were privileged to complete the vision

of past boards in recognizing the late Vir-

ginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Has-

sell’s legacy by naming our National Con-

stitutional Law Competition in his honor.

We also had incredible success at the inter-

scholastic competitions to which we sent

teams, including the receipt of Best Oralist

awards by four Regent advocates.

Next year will present many opportu-

nities for continued growth and excellence

for the Moot Court Board. We are excited

to pass the mantle of leadership and ser-

vice on to the next Board under the leader-

ship of Joshua Jenkins. We look forward

to seeing the fruits of Josh’s innovative

vision for the Board and desire to promote

unity and collaboration with Regent’s oth-

er academic boards.

I have full confidence in the 2012-13

Board’s ability to lead the Moot Court

Board with excellence over the next year,

particularly as they host the ACMA Na-

tional Competition in January 2013.

Thank you again, and God Bless!

Outgoing Chairman’s Corner 1

1L Intramural Competition 2

ABA Regional Competition 2

Elon University Competition 3

2012-2013 Moot Court Board 4

Incoming Chairman’s Corner 4

Inside this issue:

Chairman’s Corner Tristen Rae Cramer, Chairman

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First Successes in 1L Competition Joshua Jenkins, Chairman-Elect

REGENT UNIVERSITY MOOT COURT BOARD APRIL 2012

Over 140 first-year law students com-

peted for the best oralist title in this year’s

1L Moot Court Competition. The competi-

tion problem was based on a criminal pro-

cedure issue, and an evidence issue. The

first issue involved whether a police of-

ficer’s stop of a pedestrian, and subsequent

retention of a college identification card

constituted a seizure of the pedestrian. The

second issue asked whether, assuming a

seizure occurred, the exclusionary rule

would require suppression of contraband

discovered on the pedestrian during a

search incident to arrest, which was

prompted by the discovery of an outstand-

ing warrant.

“Not having taken Evidence or Con-

stitutional Criminal Procedure classes

makes this problem really challenging,"

said Beau Hoffman, a competitor who

advanced to the semi-final round. “We

also had some tough judges with difficult

questions.”

The judicial panels were made up of

Moot Court Board Members as well as

distinguished attorneys and professors.

Judges brought their expertise to the

bench, challenging competitors to think

about the legal basis for their arguments,

and the public policy implications of the

rules they proposed. When great attorneys

and judges volunteer their time to help

students develop their advocacy skills,

their investment pays big dividends.

“I never thought of

myself as an oral advo-

cate, but this experience

has helped me realize that

I shouldn’t put limits on

what God may want me to

do.” said Kahryn Rom-

bach who competed and

advanced to the round of

thirty-two. Kahryn was

one of the many outstand-

ing competitors this year,

who all had to rotate

through four different

legal arguments as their

rounds progressed.

This year added a new

semi-final round of eight

competitors, which includ-

ed 1L Students Sharon Kerk, Erik

McCauley, Jacob Balderson, Joshua

Smith, Ethan Stowell, Elise Girani, Beau

Hoffman, and David Engelhardt. After a

very competitive round, Kerk, McCauley,

Balderson, and Smith advanced to the final

round. Facing a panel including the Moot

Court Faculty Advisor, Professor Michael

Hernandez, as well as Professors Kathleen

McKee, David Velloney, David Wagner,

and Tessa Dysart, the final four competi-

tors fielded tough questions and articulated

clear answers with references to case law

and the record.

At the end of the challenging final

round, Tristen Cramer, the Moot Court

Board Chair, and James Fry, the 1L Com-

petition Coordinator, announced the win-

ners. Joshua Smith took first place, with

Erik McCauley, Sharon Kerk and Jacob

Balderson taking second through fourth,

respectively. The competition also in-

cludes best brief awards, which the Board

will announce once the briefs have been

graded. This competition would not have

been possible without our distinguished

alumni, judges, attorneys, and professors.

We appreciate the investment you make by

contributing your time and expertise to the

Regent Moot Court Board and to provid-

ing a great legal education.

1L Competition Winner Joshua Smith, with Chairman

Tristen Cramer and Competition Director James Fry

Regent Student Best Oralist at ABA Regional Christopher Young, Associate

This past March, Lindsey Fields, Ottie

Allgood, Marques Goetsch, Clinton Beh-

rends, Kenneth Luxhoj, and Jamie Barton

represented Regent Law in the ABA Re-

gional Moot Court Competition. The com-

petition is one of the most prestigious ex-

hibitions for law students, and all six com-

petitors displayed the skill, integrity, and

motivation needed to compete in the tour-

nament. The six competitors were split up

into two teams and had the task of prepar-

ing briefs and practicing oral arguments.

The preparation for the competition took

over two months, but the dedication and

hard work paid off. Lindsey Fields, a se-

cond year law student, received the “Best

Oralist” award for the competition. The

experience has left Fields with a new per-

spective on teamwork and faith. “I not

only learned to work with people I had

never met, but I let the Lord use a gift He

gave me to teach me the power of faith,”

explained Fields. “As soon as I stopped

being the one in control He started speak-

ing. It might sound cliché but the Holy

Spirit gave me my arguments.”

Regent's Moot Court Teams have re-

ceived three best oralist awards this school

year along with numerous other achieve-

ments. Congratulations to all the competi-

tors for a job well done!

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Regent Takes Best Oralist at Elon Graham Stolle, Associate

REGENT UNIVERSITY MOOT COURT BOARD APRIL 2012

Recently the Regent University

Moot Court Board had the pleasure to

send an interscholastic team to Elon

University to compete in the second

annual Billings, Exum and Frye Na-

tional Moot Court Competition. The

competitors, Anastasios Kamoutsas,

Carmen Cabrero, and Samuel

Moultrie, performed exceptionally

under the excellent leadership and

guidance of Professor McKee.

Though the trip started out rocky, with

rental car engine problems and a lost

hotel reservation, the competitors re-

mained unfazed.

The competition concerned First

Amendment issues of Freedom of

Speech and Freedom of Religion. This

interscholastic competition was the

first for these competitors. Despite

their rookie status, careful and thor-

ough preparation led to success. Their

brief scored very well. They also per-

formed very well in their oral advocacy.

The team went 3-0 in the preliminary

rounds. In the end, the team finished fifth

overall out of 33 teams. Though our team

did not ultimately win the competition,

Carmen Cabrero received the Best Oralist

award for the preliminary rounds. Alt-

hough our team had some amazing accom-

plishments, it is most important that in

every round our team demonstrated out-

standing integrity and respect for the judg-

es and for other competitors, and really

represented the Moot Court Board, the

faculty, the school, and its mission very

well.

The team had a great time and appre-

ciated the opportunity to compete and rep-

resent Regent. In the words of Anastasios

Kamoutsas, “It was a great competition!

Very organized. Nice banquet. The best

part of the experience was getting over the

hump of getting nervous before oral argu-

ments. Once you do it enough times with-

out blanking, there is no longer that adren-

aline rush.” These competitors and the

Regent Moot Court Board continue to pro-

mote the mission of Regent University and

the Moot Court Board of excellence and

glorifying God in our actions.

Regent Excels at Craven Braden Carroll, Associate

February 22-25th, 2012 marked the

35th J. Braxton Craven, Jr. Memorial

Competition, hosted by the UNC School of

Law Holderness Moot Court organization.

Twenty-four two-person teams competed,

including Regent Law’s own Team of Jes-

sica Pak, 2L, and Jonathan Young, 3L.

This year, the two issues up for argument

were (1) whether cost-of-living pension

benefits were protected under the Con-

tracts Clause, and (2) whether the suspen-

sion of those benefits caused a violation of

the Takings Clause.

After winning the first two Prelimi-

nary Rounds, Regent’s team was seeded in

the top eight, giving them a “bye” through

Round 3 of the Competition. The Team

proceeded to win Round 4, and was seeded

fourth out of the eight remaining teams

heading into the Quarter Finals for a

matchup with Pepperdine University. After

a very competitive set of arguments, Pep-

perdine University won the Quarter

Final Round, and went on to later beat

Brooklyn University in the Finals, with

Florida State winning best brief.

The Regent Team’s hard work would

not go unnoticed. Jonathan Young re-

ceived Best Oralist for the Competition,

with Jessica Pak following just four points

behind. It was a strong showing from a

talented group of Regent Law students,

who, as Jessica Pak says, “are excited to

compete again!”

Regent 2L Carmen Cabrero won Best

Oralist in the Elon prelims.

UPCOMING EVENTS October 26-27, 2012

Hassell National Constitutional Law Moot Court

Competition

November 7-12, 2012

Regent Cup, 2L-3L Intramural Competition

January 17-19, 2013

ACMA Nationals

Spring, 2013 (Dates TBA)

1L Moot Court Competition

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Passing the Torch: The 2012-2013 Moot Court Board

REGENT UNIVERSITY MOOT COURT BOARD APRIL 2012

To keep up to date on current Moot Court Board

news, upcoming events, or to register as a judge

for one of our competitions or make a donation

to the board, please visit us online at http://

www.regent.edu/acad/schlaw/student_life/

studentorgs/mootcourt/home.cfm.

Follow MCB Online!

Chairman’s Corner: A New Chapter Joshua Jenkins, Chairman-Elect (2012-2013) This year has been amazing. The As-

sociates I’ve worked with consistently

prove their talent and reliability; the Board

Members we’ve worked for have led Re-

gent’s Moot Court Board to a place of

strength and excellence. Perhaps most

importantly, scores of alumni, judges, and

attorneys gave their time and talent to the

Board, investing in the excellence of the

Moot Court Board and its members. With-

out these valued volunteers, this work

would not be possible.

As the 2011-2012 Chairman, Tristen

Cramer brought a deliberate and diplomat-

ic approach to the board. She is a peace-

maker with a consistent way of interacting

with friends, fellow students, and Moot

Court Board Members. Her walk with

God is evident from her choices and her

words. As honored as I am to accept the

Chairman’s position for the 2012-2013

year, I am also acutely aware of the tradi-

tion of excellence established by those I

follow.

Next year brings new challenges, and

with them the opportunity to introduce the

excellence of Regent's Moot Court Board

to the legal community. With the ACMA

National Undergraduate Competition and

the Hassell National Constitutional Law

Competition bringing in teams, judges, and

attorneys from all over the United States to

Regent next year, the 2012-2013 board is

already working hard to lay a strong foun-

dation.

The 2012-2013 board is so thankful for the

support of our alumni, judges, and attor-

neys, and we look forward to working with

you next year to continue the tradition of

excellence you’ve helped bring to Re-

gent’s Moot Court Board.

Joshua Jenkins

Chairman

Anastasios Kamoutsas

Interscholastic Competitions Coordinator

Barrett Luxhoj

Regent Cup Director

Braden Carroll

Business Affairs Coordinator, Secretary, & Vice Chair

Carmen Cabrero

1L Competition Director

Chris Young

Special Projects Liaison

David Vitto

Public Relations Liaison

Gene Allgood

Hassell Competition Director

Graham Stolle

ACMA Competition Director

Jessica Pak

Legal Research Coordinator

Paul Bailey

Administrative Liaison

Sarah Benhoff

Operational Events Liaison

I see our time has expired.

Good luck to the 2012-2013 Moot Court Board!