Welcome to the Rutgers Moot Court Board

The Rutgers Moot Court Board is an autonomous student-run organization dedicated to promoting superior advocacy skills. The Moot Court Board sponsors and coordinates various competitions including:

• the Nathan Baker Mock Trial Competition and
• the David Cohn Appellate Advocacy Competition.

The work of the Board includes researching and writing competition problems and administering the mock trial and appellate advocacy competitions. It endeavors to field teams representing Rutgers School of Law-Newark in regional and national competitions. The Board encourages student participation in its competitions and other activities. In addition, the Moot Court Board encourages and assists student participation in specialized competitions, including the Wagner Labor Law Competition, the Albert R. Mugel National Moot Court Tax Competition, the American Patent Law Association Competition, the ABA/LSD Client Counseling Competition, National Animal Advocacy Competition, and the Negotiations Competition.
 

2013 David Cohn Appellate 
Advocacy Competition

The Co-Chairs of the Moot Court Board are proud to announce the winners of the 2013 David Cohn Appellate Advocacy Competition:

1. Kimberly Eaton - First Place Oralist
2. Brian Shemesh - Second Place Oralist
3. Tom Syverson - Third Place Oralist
4. Brian Shemesh - Best Brief

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner of the New Jersey Supreme Court, Judge Julio Fuentes of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and Sylvia Cohn, Esq. of the Cohn family presided  over the argument. 

Kim, Brian, and Tom will be representing Rutgers as members of the National Appellate Team next year. Congratulations! 

Congratulations to all of our semifinalists and finalists for a job well done!

Congratulations to the National Mock Trial Team on their success in Texas!

The Moot Court Board congratulates the 2013 National Mock Trial Team who competed last week in the National Trial Competition in San Antonio, Texas, after winning the District 3 regional in Philadelphia, PA in February. 

It is our great pleasure to announce that Kory Ramkawsky '13 and Amanda Ribustello '13 were Quarter-Finalists, placing 5th overall out of 28 of the best mock trial teams in the nation. Both team members also received an American College of Trial Lawyers Medallion For Excellence in Trial Advocacy.

The team won all three of their preliminary rounds, edging out competitive teams from the University of New Hampshire School of Law, John Marshall School of Law, and University of California, Berkley School of Law. Following the preliminary round, the team advanced to the Quarter-Finals, which consists of the top 8 teams after the preliminary rounds, in 3rd place overall. The team faced Loyola University Chicago School of Law in the Quarter-Finals, and fell just a few points short of advancing to the Semi-Finals. Loyola-Chicago eventually advanced to the finals and came in 2nd place overall.

The National Trial Competition is run by the Texas Young Lawyers Association. This marked the first time any New Jersey law school advanced to the finals, making the team's Quarter-Final Finish an even more impressive feat for Rutgers.

Congratulations to the team along with their coaches, Christopher Karounas, Esq., Maritza Rodriguez, Esq., and Professor Judy Russell for their success. 

We are so proud to share this moment in Rutgers-Newark history with the team!

Rutgers Law School Dominates at the
2013 National Trial Competition Regional

The Moot Court Board congratulates the 2013 National Mock Trial Team who competed this weekend in the National Trial Competition Regional in Philadelphia, PA.

It is our great pleasure to announce that David Baumwoll, Kory Ramkawsky, and Amanda Ribustello advanced to the finals and won the competition for the first time in Rutgers history.

This team was announced as the 2013 National Trial Competition Regional Champion Sunday night, after defeating the University of Pittsburgh Law School mock trial team in the Finals.

We also wish to congratulate team member David Baumwoll, who won the competition's highest individual honor by taking home the 2013 Best Advocate Award.

The team will represent Rutgers-Newark in San Antionio, Texas at the National Trial Competition Finals in April, competing against 21 of the best mock trial teams across the nation.

We also wish to congratulate Anthony Marcum, Christopher Mitchell and Charles Simmons who also competed in the competition and made an impressive showing on our behalf.

Congratulations to both teams, their head coach, Christopher Karounas, Esq., assistant coach, Maritza Rodriguez, Esq., and mentor, Professor Judy Russell.

We are so proud to share this moment in Rutgers-Newark history with the team!

2012 Nathan Baker Mock Trial Competition

We would like to congratulate the Baker Trial Competition Finalists:

Winning Team: 

Christopher Mitchell and Charles Simmons

Runner Up Team: 

Anthony Marcum and Fabrice Charles

Best Oralist: 

Christopher Mitchell

The Moot Court Board will send both teams to regional competition representing Rutgers next semester.

Congratulations to all competitors!

A Special Thank You to All Judges, Sponsors, and Board Members!

2012 David Cohn Appellate Advocacy Competition

2011 Nathan Baker Mock Trial Competition