This HBCU is the First to Claim Moot Court Title

The Morehouse College Moot Team recently became the first historically black college or university (HBCU) to earn a national title at the American Collegiate Moot Court Association.

From BlackManCan.org, “The championship was decided by arguments presented in the imaginary case of Andrea Sommerville and William DeNolf v. State of Olympus, in which the plaintiffs challenged a law, “Proposition 417” that mandated women to take a trans-vaginal ultrasound and doctors to offer individual scripted counselling before having an abortion.”

Morehouse was the only HBCU representative in the entire competition, “They represented Morehouse superbly and without fault,” said team coach Winfield Murray in a release.

The team who include Rodje Malcolm and Emmanuel Waddell earned a perfect win record for the entire academic year, the only team to do so, and also went on to 3-2 win over seven-time champion Patrick Henry College at the national championship on Jan. 16-17.

Murray also thinks the moot court is a great opportunity for students.

“Schools across the country have recognized that moot court better prepares students for law school and law careers than any other forensic program,” he said.

“Students have to understand judicial precedent, how to brief case law, how to argue appellate matters before the U.S. Supreme Court and how to address a tribunal en banc. These skills are normally taught in law school, so we are well ahead of the curve in preparing our lawyers of tomorrow.”