from staff
For the fourth year in a row, a moot court team from Florida Coastal School of Law advanced to the final round of the state’s oldest moot court competition, earning the Best Brief Award and final round Best Advocate Award in the process. This year marked the 45th Annual Orseck Moot Court Competition, which was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Florida Bar in Boca Raton last week.
“These students performed in the finest tradition of Coastal Law’s statewide and national reputation for appellate advocacy,” said moot court team coach Sander Moody.
The Coastal Law team outperformed teams from all Florida law schools, including the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of Miami, Florida International University, Barry University, and Stetson, before advancing to the final round against St. Thomas University.
Historically, the Robert Orseck Moot Court Competition is held in conjunction with the annual Florida Bar meeting, with the finals being judged by justices of the Florida Supreme Court.
At the competition, the teams are given a controversial legal topic and must argue both sides of the issues. The issues this year centered on the freedom of religion provisions of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and a statute of frauds issue.
In 2005 Coastal Law garnered the attention of members of the Bar by winning the Orseck competition after competing only one other year. In 2006, Coastal Law put two teams in the finals, taking first and second place in the process. In 2007, Coastal Law won for the third year in a row.
“The continued success of our teams speaks to the level of their hard work and commitment,” said Moody. “Florida Coastal has a lot to be proud of.”