UC Hastings Hosts Regional Rounds of National Moot Court Competition

The UC Hastings Moot Court Department was proud to host the Regional Rounds of the prestigious National Moot Court Competition on November 10-11, 2011. Multiple teams from six Bay Area schools competed for the chance to advance to the National Final Rounds in New York next spring. The teams competed against each other at UC Hastings, in the new Justice Marvin and Jane Baxter Appellate Law Center, and at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals courthouse.  UC Hastings welcomed an impressive panel of accomplished jurists for the final round panel, including Justice Ignacio Ruvolo, Justice James Lambden and Justice Kathleen M. Banke of the California Court of Appeal, and Judge (Ret.) Leslie Nichols.  UC Hastings Moot Court warmly thanks all of the volunteer judges, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Rob Galloway, Regional Administrator, for helping us host this event.

(L to R): Mark D'Argenio, Dakota Griscom-Benjamin, Peter Franklin, Vijay Toke, Kelly Matayoshi, David Kestenbaum, Ruth Israely, Ryan Rezaei, Taryn Hunter, Madihha Ahussain, and Mara Boundy

(L to R):Dakota Griscom-Benjamin, Madihha Ahussain, Peter Franklin

At the Regional Competition, the UC Hastings 3L team of Madihha Ahussain, Peter Franklin and Dakota Griscom-Benjamin won the First Place Best Brief award. The UC Hastings team of Taryn Hunter, Ruth Israely and Ryan Rezaei won the award for the Fifth Best Brief.  Both UC Hastings teams excelled at oral arguments and advanced to the semi-final rounds of the regional competition. Congratulations to the teams, and many thanks to alumni coaches Charlie Bisesto, Mark D’Argenio, David Kestenbaum, and Vijay Toke, and to student coaches Kelly Matayoshi and Mara Boundy for their dedication and support.

Moot Court Team Excels at Entertainment Law Competition

(L to R): Heidi Hansen, Yumi Nam, Angela McIsaac, Candice Shih, Sara Moore

In Malibu, the UC Hastings team of Candice Shih, Sara Moore and Angela McIssac advanced to the final round and came in Second Place at the prestigious Pepperdine University National Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition, November 11-13, 2011. The Department congratulates the team on this impressive finish and thanks alumni coach Yumi Nam and student coach Heidi Hansen Kalscheur for their generous contributions to our teams.

Our award-winning teams will begin practicing for the spring competitions in January 2012, so please visit www.hastingsmootcourt.com to view practice schedules and sign up to judge! You can also get up-to-the-minute news about our teams on Twitter at @hastingsmc. If you would like more information about supporting our Number One intercollegiate Moot Court program, contact Director Toni Young at younga@uchastings.edu.