American University Washington College of Law to Host High School Moot Court Competition, November 22
Local High Schoolers to Argue Case of Free Speech
WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 22, 2008 – The American University Washington College of Law Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project will run the William H. Karchmer Fall High School Moot Court Competition, Saturday Nov. 22, 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, 333 Constition Ave. NW.
Between thirty and forty public and charter high school students from the Washington, D.C. area will compete against each other in a fictitious appellate argument based on a free speech issue involving the posting of an editorial critical of a school principal on a student’s website. The final round will be judged by U.S. District Judges Emmet Sullivan of U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia and other judges and other distinguished judges and lawyers.
The high schools represented in the local competition include: D.C.’s Ballou, Bell Multicultural, Cesar Chavez, Dunbar, Eastern, Duke Ellington School for the Arts, Roosevelt, School Without Walls and Wilson high schools; and Kennedy High School in Silver Spring. The competitors were chosen based on in-class competitions held over the past two weeks.
The moot court competitions are a part of the Washington College of Law Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project, a unique and highly acclaimed program where law students teach Constitutional Law in local high schools teaching students about their constitutional rights and responsibilities. The curriculum is based on the book We the Students: Supreme Court Cases for and About Students (CQ Press and the Supreme Court Historical Society, 2008). Written by AU Law Professor Jamin B. Raskin, We the Students examines 35 actual cases heard by the Supreme Court that deal with the constitutional rights of students. More information on the WCL Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project.
To arrange to attend the competition, contact Steve Wermiel at 240-472-2444. Members of the press should contact Franki Fitterer with questions or for more information – (202) 274-4279.
