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"We the Students" National High School Moot Court Competition |
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General Information
On April 1-2, 2006 the Washington College of Law will host the Seventh Annual "We the Students" National High School Moot Court Competition. The Competition takes place in Washington, D.C. and offers high school students, from across the nation, a unique opportunity to meet other participants while developing their advocacy skills in front of area law students, practitioners, and judges.
2005 Competition Problem
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THOMAS MILES v. MOOT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Case No. 3594-19
This year's problem involves two high school students engaged in an argument. Sometime during the argument one of
the students, Thomas Miles, allegedly heard another student, Henry Long, use a racial slur; Miles reacted by hitting the
student. Immediately following the fight, the school Principal, also Long's uncle, suspended Miles for five days.
During the suspension period Long told his uncle that Miles had threatened to harm him with a gun upon Miles's return to
school; the gun was allegedly located in Miles's locker. The Principal conducted a search of Miles's locker and found a
knife, but no gun. As a result, the Principal called for a hearing at which the School Board would decide whether to
expel Miles for possession of the knife.
The Principal notified Miles and his family of the pending hearing. First, he left an answering machine message at
the Miles home informing the family of the date and time of the hearing. However, the message did not mention the reason
for the expulsion hearing, and both Miles and his mother claim to have never received the message. Second, the Principal
sent a letter, certified mail, to the Miles home two days before the hearing. Despite the notices, Miles and his mother
were unaware of the weapons charge against Miles. Nonetheless, the hearing proceeded and was led by the school's Principal.
During the hearing, Miles was not allowed to confront his accuser. Furthermore, the Principal did not allow Miles to speak
freely; instead he limited Miles's testimony to questions relating specifically to the presence of the knife in his locker.
Ultimately the School Board voted to expel Miles. Thereafter, Thomas Miles challenged the School BoardÂ’s expulsion hearing
as a violation of his Fourteenth Amendment right to Due Process.
Registration Information
- Registration Form
- Competition Bylaws 2004-2005
- Local Hotel Rates 2004-2005
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Directions to WCL
Problem Documents
2005 Competition Results
Coming soon.
Listen to Oral Arguments in the Supreme Court
Search the Oyez.org website for audio of Supreme Court arguments. Type "fourteenth amendment" into the search box to find cases dealing with the Fourteenth Amendment issues.
Additional Resources
- Understanding Procedural Due Process
- The Law of Due Process
- The Due Process Rights of Students
- Due Process Flow Chart
If you have questions or would like further information regarding this competition, please
e-mail competition directors Andrea Clarke and Erin Munro at moot@wcl.american.edu.