After going undefeated in their previous rounds, the team of FIU Law students Katie Miesner and Alejandro Torvis won first place in the competition, defeating Liberty University in the final round. In addition to winning the competition, Alejandro Torvis won Best Orator in the final round, Katie Miesner won fourth place Best Orator in the preliminary rounds out of 70 orators, and the team won an award for second best petitioner’s brief.
The team of FIU Law students Alain Acanda and Dean Kandi brought home the first-place award for Best Respondent’s Brief, and advanced through the quarterfinals.
The Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition, started in 2011, honors three former Chief Justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court and focuses on constitutional law issues. This year’s issue concerned the constitutionality of a statute banning conversion therapy, implicating First Amendment free speech and free exercise rights. The teams spent the seven weeks researching, drafting their briefs, and preparing for oral argument. FIU Professor and coach Rima Mullins said “I am so proud of how hard the students prepared, while juggling school and work responsibilities. Each one of them contributed to the school’s success in this competition.”