Seton Hall Interscholastic Moot Court Board Ranked 13th in the Country

Seton Hall's Interscholastic Moot Court Board, led by Professor Jodi Anne Hudson, Esq. '96, ended the 2021-2022 season with a record three National Moot Court Championship victories, resulting in a ranking of 13th in the country heading into the 2022-2023 season. The team's finish resulted in an invitation to compete at the National Championship in Houston, Texas in January 2023.

Bryan Castro '22 and Fiona Ambrosio '22 started the victories off for the team with a First-Place finish at the virtual Bryant Moore National Civil Rights Moot Court Competition. The team competed in four rounds in the 20-team competition before besting the University of Maine in the Final Round.  Just a few minutes later and a few classrooms away, then second-year students Cailin Harrington '23 and Kim Begley '23 won the virtual Gabrielli National Family Law Moot Court Competition. The team moved through five rounds in the 28-team competition before claiming victory against the University of Dayton in the Final Round.  And just a few weeks later, then second-year students Abigail Grise '23 and Gabrielle Albert '23 won the inaugural virtual National Gender & Sexual Orientation Moot Court Competition, taking top honors over Columbia Law School.  The team also received the Best Brief award.

Professor Jodi Anne Hudson comments: "In the 22 years of directing this program, the team has never won three national championships in one year, and within three weeks of each other. The Interscholastic Moot Court Board has garnered hundreds of awards over the last two decades for top competition finishes, brief awards, and individual oralist awards - and each and every award has a story of hard work and dedication to this team behind it. But these virtual wins were special; watching the team put in 110% during a pandemic is something I will never forget."

The 2022-2023 team, consisting of 44 students due to the increase in class size over the past several years, is in the process of gearing up to begin its competition season. The team will return to almost all "in-person" competitions, which will be a stark change from the virtual rounds held over the past two years.  Cailin Harrington '23 notes, "Competing in a virtual format last spring was undoubtedly challenging at times, but the lessons I learned will be invaluable heading into this competition season. While my partners and I have yet to stand behind a competition podium, competing virtually honed our ability to think on our feet, focus our eye-contact, and maintain composure when faced with obstacles ranging from microphone malfunctions to judges questioning the competitors at the same time. I am excited to put these skills to use in person and compete in front of federal judges this January; moreover, I am excited to represent Seton Hall Law one last time!