Stephen F. Austin State University

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft was among the judges of a competition in which the Stephen F. Austin State University Moot Court team ranked 11th nationally. The American Collegiate Moot Court Association championship, held at Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Va., featured the top 64 undergraduate two-person teams from across the country.

The team of Rachel Nichols, Henderson senior, and LaToya Harridon, a junior from Kingston, Jamaica, advanced to final rounds, finishing among the top 16 teams in the country. The team was coached by Dr. Hans Hacker, assistant professor of political science and pre-law advisor, and Karren Price, assistant professor of criminal justice and former 273rd judicial district judge. This is the second year that SFA has competed at the national tournament, producing nationally ranked teams both years.

“The Regent competition was the most organized and best administered competition in which SFA has competed,” Hacker said. “I’m very proud of how all our teams performed.”

In order to qualify for nationals, teams must place within the top quarter of one of five regional competitions throughout the United States. Twenty-six schools, both private and state institutions, were represented including Liberty University, Howard Payne University, the College of Wooster, Patrick Henry College, and Texas A&M.

Moot court is a form of debate where competitors take part in simulated appellate court proceedings, drafting briefs in support of legal positions and demonstrating skills in oral argumentation. The competition attempts to parallel the actual circumstances of an appellate case. Students are given a fictitious Supreme Court case and must prepare briefs for both sides of the case. This year’s case concerned illegal government surveillance.

The tournament was adjudicated by a mix of law students, local attorneys, and judges from the Virginia Beach area. The Chief Justice for the final round was former Attorney General John Ashcroft. Ashcroft personally commended the SFA team as they received their awards.

"Thank you for all your hard work and insight,” Ashcroft said. “It is a pleasure to see young people with such dedication.”