National Moot Court Competition Content

National Moot Court Competition in Child Welfare & Adoption Law
March 15 & 16, 2013
Columbus, Ohio

TOPIC: Contested Adoptions: Whose Interests Prevail?
 

 2013 CHAMPIONS 

Team 20: Northern Kentucky University - Salmon P. Chase College of Law
Erica Blankenship and Sara Martin 

 Herb Brail of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Stephanie Ledesma of the National Association of Counsel for Children, Rich Simpson, Dean of Capital University Law School, Sara Martin, Erica Blankenship and Gary Tyack, Ohio 10th Circuit Court of Appeals (from left to right)  

RUNNER-UP 

Team 24: Northern Kentucky University - Salmon P. Chase College of Law
Scott McDorman and Kathleen Shields

SEMI-FINALISTS 

Team 22: Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Elizabeth Gresk & Kelly Pendergast

Team 23: Florida Coastal School Of Law
Michael Ballou, Rachel Kotkin, and Samantha Marriott

2013 BEST BRIEF  

Team 22: Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Elizabeth Gresk & Kelly Pendergast

 TESTIMONIALS 

• “The competition is run so smoothly, it is flawless every year. I love the locations of where the competition is held.” – participant  
• “There were quite a few very talented teams, and the level of competition, on average, was very good. As for the administration of the tournament, I cannot praise you enough. We host a national tournament at our school every year, and I know how much work goes into it. Everything was run extremely professionally. We were all extremely impressed with how well the tournament was administered.” – participant  
• “It was a wonderful experience throughout. I enjoyed researching and writing the topic. The competition was also exceptionally well organized throughout. Staff members were always very responsive, knowledgeable and pleasant to deal with. The locations were really great. Arguing at the statehouse and state supreme court were experiences I will remember forever.” - participant  
• “Keep up the great work. This competition just gets better every year!” – faculty advisor/coach 
• “The superb presentations are a reflection of the many, many hours of work that each student put into their presentation. I also appreciate the opportunity to be on the ‘other side’ of the bench which I believe is far more challenging to an attorney than a judge or magistrate who would be hearing just another case, albeit a far better prepared one. I thoroughly enjoyed being part of this event for the third time!” – attorney/judge  
• “The materials were outstanding. The problem was great and instructions to judges could not [have been] better.” – attorney/judge 

Final Round Judges will be representatives from the following partners:  

• The ABA Center on Children and the Law
• The American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
• The National Association of Counsel for Children
• The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy at Capital University Law School
• The National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges

 2013 REGISTERED TEAMS