University of Queensland law students will travel to Washington DC to compete in the international finals of the world’s largest mooting competition, after a judging error was discovered in the Australian finals.
宅男导航 2016 team faculty advisor and Law lecturer said the University of Tasmania team won by a narrow margin when it mooted against 宅男导航 in the national round quarter-finals in Canberra last month.
“Following the release of the score sheets it became apparent that one of the judges may have incorrectly transcribed the scores for the two teams, which would have altered the outcome,” Professor Cassimatis said.
“The Australian national administrator raised the possibility of an error with the judge concerned, who – acting with great honesty and integrity – immediately acknowledged that there had indeed been an error.
“The Executive Director of the International Law Students Association in Washington DC has formally ruled on the matter and invited the 2016 宅男导航 team to compete in Washington in March.
“The 宅男导航 team will join the Australian National University and the University of New South Wales to represent Australia.”
More than 550 law schools from 80 countries are participating in the , in a simulation of a fictional dispute before the United Nations’ International Court of Justice.
宅男导航 won the international title in 2014 and 2005.
The 2016 宅男导航 team – now dubbed the “Phoenix Jessup Mooters”— comprises Lauren Browne, Angus Fraser, Milan Gandhi, Erin Gourlay and Molly Thomas. The team is coached by former world champion mooter and current 宅男导航 student Hugo Clark-Ryan.
Up to the end of 2015, the team was coached by Catherine Drummond, the coach of the 2014 world championship 宅男导航 team. Ms Drummond works in Paris for international law firm , and was the top international law Masters student at Cambridge University in 2015 after her graduation from 宅男导航 in 2012.
The 2016 team’s lead advocate, Erin Gourlay, said the moot competition was long and intellectually challenging, but rewarding.
“This year’s problem focuses on the international law around cyber-surveillance and cyber-attacks,” she said.
“It is really satisfying to stand in front of a panel of judges and defend arguments you have spent months researching and formulating, and seeing those arguments accepted.
“It’s exciting to have an opportunity to find solutions to some of the most important legal questions facing the international community today, and knowing these same questions are being tackled simultaneously by lawyers all over the world.”
Ms Gourlay said the team thanked the moot’s Australian administrator for the efficient and fair administration of the local rounds, and the way the scoring issue was resolved.
“We also acknowledge the honesty and integrity of the judge concerned, whose openness in relation to the error allowed for the prompt resolution of the issue.
“We’re thrilled now to have the opportunity to learn more about international law through participation in the international rounds of the Jessup moot competition in Washington.”
Professor Cassimatis said the school was now seeking sponsorship to help cover the cost of the team’s travel to the US.
Media: School of Law Manager, Co-Curricular Programs, Genevi猫ve Murray, g.murray@law.uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 7173.
