The Drake University Law School National Moot Court team recently finished in the top eight out of 28 teams that competed in the national finals of the 59th Annual National Moot Court Competition. The team’s brief was judged as Third Best Brief in the national finals.
The competition was held Feb. 2-9 at the headquarters of the New York City Bar Association in New York City. Teams from 127 law schools competed in 14 regional competitions held throughout the United States. The 28 finalists, including Drake, advanced to the national finals after placing first or second in their respective regions.
The Drake team, sponsored by the Des Moines firm Whitfield & Eddy PLC, consists of third-year students Ashley Dose from Boone, Iowa; and Kevin Teets from Woodlawn, Tenn.; and second-year student Tyler Eason from Ankeny, Iowa.
“I am very proud of the students,” said Laurie Dore, professor of law and coach. “The students excelled in oral advocacy and also demonstrated outstanding analytical and writing skills. To finish in the top eight schools nationally is a tremendous achievement.”
The students argued a fictional case concerning the constitutionality of the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, as well as the interpretation of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Drake has advanced to the finals 16 times since 1990.
The National Moot Court Competition, one of the oldest and most prestigious of its kind in the country, is jointly sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.