American University Law Students Navigate Global Crises in Prestigious Jean-Pictet IHL
AUWCL students emerge semi-finalists in moot court held in Belgium
In a remarkable display of legal ability and commitment to humanitarian law, American University Washington College of Law students Amal Rass (2L), Jack Kirk (3L), and Mandy Spiegel (2L) emerged as semi-finalists at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 43rd Jean-Pictet IHL moot court competition in Belgium.
Under the guidance of Professor Susana SaCouto, the director of the War Crimes Research Office alongside alumni Vy Nguyen and current 3L, Ben Crawford, the team received expert coaching. Chelsea Kay and Christie J. Edwards, both alumni, served as Pictet test writers.
"The team came back, in their words ‘feeling confident in their abilities to analyze and apply international humanitarian law and enthusiastic about the new connections they made in this area of the law,’" SaCouto said. "Many people in the field have entered the competition, and ICRC’s Jean-Pictet committee keeps an updated list of competitors that they share only with those who have participated in."
The Jean-Pictet Competition, with its motto, "taking the law out of the books," offers a unique opportunity for students to engage in a week-long series of mimicking diplomatic negotiations and other exercises focused on international humanitarian law and public international law from various perspectives. The students took part in the English version of the competition consisting of 28 teams with eight rounds of competition with the addition of semifinals and finals.
Rass, driven by her personal connection to the Syrian conflict as a Syrian American citizen, found the competition deeply impactful.
"We were in a simulated universe, doing these simulated tests but the law is very real, and the application of it is very real and impacts real people in real time," she said. "The semi-final round was a fact pattern on occupation law and we felt well-versed in it due to the real-time situation in Palestine manifesting on our phone screens as well as our in-depth legal research into the nooks and crannies of IHL."
The destructive and unpredictable nature of armed conflict was brought to life as the teams were presented with conflict scenarios on the spot, testing their ability to think on their feet and apply legal principles under pressure.
"I really enjoyed preparing for each test and strategizing with my teammates before each round," said Kirk. "It was fun to frantically flip through the Geneva Conventions to find some obscure rule and try to organize ourselves so we could be ready for whatever they threw at us."
According to Spiegel, the competition provided more than just legal challenges.
"At the conclusion of the afternoon rounds, the teams and the judges would gather in a communal space and get to know each other outside the competition," she said. "On the first night, teams were encouraged to bring snacks from their home countries, which was probably the most memorable part of the competition for me."
This internationalist exposure speaks volumes to AUWCLs commitment to humanitarian law, international public law, and human rights. The success of these students at the Jean-Pictet Competition not only demonstrates their legal skills but also their dedication to making a meaningful impact in the field of international law.
Story by Hasini Jayawardena.