Toledo Law’s Moot Court Team Competes on National Stage
by Briana Palmer | April 21, 2023
Moot Court at Toledo Law, advised by Professor Eric Chaffee and Professor Krysten Beech, challenges students to display their legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills in a competition setting. Students travel all over the country to compete against other schools. Each team argues on behalf of their fictional client using a fact pattern tailored to participants' specific interests. Every competition focuses on the most interesting issues relevant to a chosen area of law.
Throughout March and early April, Moot Court sent five teams to different cities around the country to compete in tournaments focused on five different areas of law:
- Wesley Henkel and Joseph Stefanko, coached by Professor Geoffrey Rapp – Las Vegas, NV – Gaming Law
- Clif Porter and Hunter Wilde, coached by Professor Joe Slater – New York City, NY – Labor Law
- Katie Elliot and Tom Gillen, coached by Professor Krysten Beech – Buffalo, NY – Criminal Law
- Patrick Milkie and Ally Zenda, coached by Professor Eric Chaffee – Morgantown, WV – Environmental Law
- Ed Hastings and Taylor Thomas, coached by Professor Jessica Knouse – Columbus, OH – Family Law
The hypothetical cases were set in the United States Supreme Court and each team was assigned to take a side. Students prepared appellate briefs that they submitted in January to the fictional court. Participants then traveled to present the substance of their briefs as oral arguments in front of a panel of judges.
In Las Vegas, Wesley Henkel and Joseph Stefanko placed third out of 28 teams in a
two-day tournament. Professor Geoffrey Rapp coached the team, assisted in their extensive
preparation, and provided guidance at the event. Henkel and Stefanko represented
the fictional Petitioner in a hypothetical case based on the real-life Supreme Court
case Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas (2022). The fact pattern involved the federal
prosecution of an alleged illegal virtual bingo game being run on Indian tribal lands.
Both men agree that arguing a gaming law issue was challenging as it was a brand new, niche area of law and completely foreign to them prior to the competition. According to Stefanko, “We both proved it to ourselves that Toledo can and will show up to these types of competitions prepared and ready to swing with the biggest and best law schools.”
Toledo Law prioritizes the development of practical skills by having 100% of its students fulfill six experiential learning credits. Students can audition to participate in the Moot Court Team and the Ohio Attorney General Mock Trial program, or they can elect to register for simulation courses, externships, or clinics.
Henkel’s advice to those considering joining the Moot Court Team: “Try out for Moot Court at the end of your 1L or 2L year. Even if you do not get on it as a 1L, be persistent and do your best to make it on the next year; membership on Moot Court will always be worth your while.”