Saginaw Valley State University students win regional moot court championship

Moot court is a simulation experience that students studying law can take part in as attorneys arguing fabricated cases, and two Saginaw Valley State University students have done their part so well, they won a regional moot court championship at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio.

According to an article on Saginaw Valley State University’s website, Diva Patel, a student who studies molecular biology, biomedical sciences, and cell biology said of her win with Nikolas Baker, a Political Science major, “We are incredibly grateful to be able to participate in undergraduate moot court, especially knowing that our coaches put an immense amount of work into the program. The competition was tough, but we were prepared to compete in this tournament and to perform our best. Nik and I are incredibly honored to have won the regional tournament and to represent SVSU in this way.”

The moot court program at Saginaw Valley State University consistently does well in competitions sponsored by the American Moot Court Association, with SVSU’s program qualifying to compete in the tournaments almost every year since the school’s program began in 2010. Moot court cases are argued by students in front of the Supreme Court, and students must rely on their knowledge of the law and effective public speaking skills in order to do well.

Kevin Lorentz II, an associate professor of Political Science, said of this year’s competition, “These students have been working hard since May on their arguments, putting in countless hours practicing in and outside of class. It is a testament to their skill and determination that we did as well as we did. Diva, Jason, Jeffrey, Kennedy and Nik are exemplars of the high-caliber students here at SVSU. They truly stood out among the other competitors, many of whom are from larger schools.”

“We’re immensely proud of all five students,” added Julie Keil, who serves as Moot Court director as well as professor of Political Science.

In addition to Patel and Baker, the three other participants from SVSU at the Capital City Classic moot court competition were Kennedy Kreger, Jeffrey Ramsey, and Jason Hoang, all three Political Science majors. Kreger and Ramsey competed as a team and earned a spot in the top eight of the competition, eventually earning 5th and 6th place respectively, after being beat by Patel and Baker, and Hoang competed with a student from another school and made it to day two of the competition. 

For more information about Moot Court, visit the American Moot Court Association's website.

For more information about Saginaw Valley State University, visit the school’s website.