Moot Court at Seton Hall School of Law

Monday, April 02 2007, 02:04 PM EDT

Contributed by: Mel Fabrikant

Seton Hall
Law Professor Robert Fabrikant and his brother Mel attended Seton Hall University’s 14th annual Moot Court Session at its Law School in Newark. Through the beneficence of Professor Jodi Anne Hudson, www.ParamusPost.com was allowed to attend. Despite a frenetic schedule and registration, Professor Hudson was able to keep a winning smile and an ability to solve last minute problems.

Howard University, Bob’s school, offered two aspiring lawyers, Natiya Tapper and Brandon Jones, both Class of 2007.

It is most interesting to see these 32 teams take part in the John J. Gibbons Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition. The Howard University team came in from Washington, DC for the competition where they were assigned # 14. No other identification was allowed by its sponsors to be given to the judges or the opposing team. After going over the briefs and arguments, Brandon and Natiya and team # 23 (St. John’s School of Law) were escorted to a classroom where the hearing would be held.

As in an actual courtroom, all had to rise when the five robed judges were escorted into the room by the bailiff. Team # 14 competed against # 23 as the respondent and later against team # 17 (University of Michigan Law School) as the plaintiff. The judges had no qualms about interrupting the speaker, no matter which side. In turn, these presenters had to back up their statements with appropriate points of law.

My particular interest, of course, was the presentations by Tapper and Jones. I had watched them prepare for each session, constantly reviewing their briefs and upcoming trial. Professor Bob Fabrikant, a respected DC lawyer, tried to help them with some of the problems that might be incurred.

Working with the Seton Hall School of Law Interscholastic Moot Court Board were: Professor Jodi Anne Hudson, Student Directors Kristin Muir and Paul Werner, Riccio First-year Moot Court Competition Chair Michael Fazio as well as: Josh Arnold, Vanessa Campagna, Michael Carucci, Erica Darpini, Jesse Ehnert, Robert Flanagan, Nicole Gerritsen, Krista Gundersen, Jonathan Henry, Neeraj Joshi, James Kellar, Greg Kohn, James Leavy, Cristina Martinez, Lucinda McLaughlin, Cynthia Miller, Matthew Moench, Aili Monahan. Michael Pastacaldi, Julie Patchell, Alison Price, Andrew Sarrol, Calvin Souder, Justin Talley, K. Mallory Tosch, Gary Tulp, Trevor Whiting and Michael Yellin.

Alas, I just received word that this enterprising team didn’t make it past the Friday trials. If it was left up to me, they would have advanced to the finals. For further information access:

http://law.shu.edu/administration/registrar_bursar/moot_court/gibbons.html

http://law.shu.edu/administration/registrar_bursar/moot_court/2007_Gibbons_Rules.pdf

http://law.shu.edu/administration/registrar_bursar/moot_court/2007_Gibbons_Problem.pdf

http://law.shu.edu/administration/registrar_bursar/moot_court/Competitor_Briefs_2007.html

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