American University Washington College of Law’s Jessup Moot Court Team Advances to Round 16 of International Competition
April 9, 2018
After winning the Mid-Atlantic Regional Competition of the Jessup International Moot Court Competition in February, American University Washington College of Law competed in the international round, advancing to the round of 16 in the global competition.
Represented by 3Ls HJ Brehmer and Cynthia Park and 2Ls Katherine Youssouf and Hannah Stambaugh, the team was one of 136 from around the world to compete in the international round, held April 1-7 in Washington, DC.
AUWCL competed against national teams from India, Bangladesh, Estonia, and Croatia in the preliminary rounds. In the advanced rounds, the team defeated the University of San Diego before being eliminated by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in the Octo-Finals.
Individually, Brehmer tied for thirteenth place individual oralist, and Park and Youssouf tied for twenty-fifth place individual oralist overall.
Before advancing the the international round, AUWCL won the regional competition held at George Washington University Feb. 9-11. There, AUWCL defeated West Virginia University in the quarter-finals, Harvard in the semi-finals, and the University of Virginia in the final round to win the regional competition.
The team was coached by AUWCL Adjunct Professor Catherine Newcombe. Professor Newcombe also coached the 2016 team, who also advanced to the international finals.
“The team’s fantastic showing – on both a team and individual level – in the world’s largest moot court competition speaks volumes about their preparation, skills, and dedication.”
Dean Camille Nelson
“We are extremely proud of our Jessup team and their accomplishments,” Dean Camille Nelson said following the team's regional win. “The team’s fantastic showing – on both a team and individual level – in the world’s largest moot court competition speaks volumes about their preparation, skills, and dedication.”
The team’s briefs in the regional competition placed fifth overall and Stambaugh, Brehmer, and Park won second, third, and fifth place oralists, respectively.
The Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition is the oldest and largest moot court competition. Competitors engage in extensive research, writing, and oral advocacy based on a fictional scenario on international law. The team has been preparing for the competition since September 2017 and completed eight moots in advance of the competition.
The team would like to thank Professors Heywood, Mendez, Anderson, Franck, and Beske, as well as students Laura Collins, Dylan Boivin, Chase Dunn, and Dan Wiltshire for mooting them in preparation for this competition.
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