2012 Niagara International Moot Court Results

by Keith Edmund White

As promised, the results of the 2012 Niagara Competition are below. Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you for all the competitors that made this competition so successful. Furthermore, any competitors with photos or other memories of the competition, shoot your experiences to cuslinexus@gmail.com. And as a competitor myself, who was horrible at networking with everyone, feel free to leave a comment to say hi (or any corrections to the list).

Niagara Cup Winner

University of Windsor

Memorial Awards*

Best Applicant Memorial 

University of Western Ontario (6)

Best Respondent Memorial

Creighton University 

Runner-Up Applicant Memorials

Queens Faculty of Law (4) and University of Pittsburgh (5)

Runner-Up Respondent Memorial

American University (17)

Individual Oralist Awards

Best Advocate

Gregory Graham, University of Pittsburgh

Runner-Up Advocates

Paul Allen, Creighton, and Alicia Roberts, Pittsburgh University

Third Place

Stacy Edwards, American University

Fourth Place

Reshma Sambre, Michigan State University

Fifth Place

Evgeny Krasnov, Hofstra University School of Law

Team Oralist Awards

Best Applicant

American University 

Best Respondent

University of Pittsburgh

Henry T. King Award

Michigan State University

Team Standings

Niagara Cup Runner-Up – University of Western Ontario

Semifinalists – Creighton University and Michigan State University

Quarterfinalists – American University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Pittsburgh, University of the Pacific McGeorge

*Team briefs can be found online here. They are labeled by team numbers which is the number in the parentheses. Creighton--I'm still looking for your number, it will be updated shortly. Furthermore, please send requests to take down any names to cuslinexus@gmail.com.

Niagara International Moot Court Competition Takes D.C. By Storm

Dear Readers,

Sorry for our recent pause from posting.  But the Niagara International Moot Court competition, being held in Washington, D.C., has stolen the attention of the blog's staff this week.   The competition is sponsored by the Canada United States Law Institute, one of the projects of this rich partnership between Case Western Reserve University and the University of Western Ontario.

Law schools from across the United States and Canada have descended upon the American capital to debate a problem focusing on two critical issues:  (1) when and how nations can invoke self-defense to defend themselves from unconventional threats, and (2) what role does the Responsibility to Protect doctrine play in international law.  This question is particularly relevant as the international community confronts what a UN panel has considered Syrian crimes against humanity against their own citizens.

Tonight we’ll know the team winner, team awards for written memorials, and individual speaking awards.  But, whatever the results, this competition is an incredible learning opportunity for students, and also showcases the important relationship between the United States and Canada.  Special thanks to competition chair (noted arbitration attorney, founder of InvestmentClaims.com, and Columbia Law lecturer) Ian A. Laird, CUSLI board and members who have put on this incredible show, the incredible judges who have spent their Friday and Saturday listening to arguments, and Cox International Law Center director professor Michael Scharf who crafted such a relevant and nuanced problem.

A quick shout-out to the sponsors:  DLA Piper, Fasken Martineau, Baker Hostetler, King & Spalding, Crowell Moring, and the Government of Canada.   

And finally, just look at this esteemed panel of judges for the final rounds:  Former ICTY judge Patricia M. Wald, current Ombudsperson for Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee Kimberly Prost, and former Co-Prosecutor of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia Robert Petit.  Learn more about the competition here.