Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University Hosts Successful 2024 Regional Round for the Americas and Caribbean of the International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition
On March 9-10, 2024, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University hosted the 2024 Regional Round for the Americas and Caribbean of the International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition (ICC Moot). The event brought nine teams to Haub Law, with the top five US teams qualifying for the global ICC Moot Court Competition held annually in The Hague, Netherlands. The team from the University of Chicago College achieved a first-place finish in this Regional Round, with Georgetown University Law Center finishing as runner up, and William & Mary Law School also participating in the final round.
“The ICC Moot is a wonderful and unique moot court competition unlike any others,” said Professor Alexander K.A. Greenawalt, who serves as faculty director of the Moot. “Haub Law founded the competition from its inception as a classroom simulation and though it has evolved over time, we still have the honor of hosting a significant regional qualifying round for the global competition that takes place in The Hague each year.” This year, the five top US teams were the University of Chicago College, Georgetown University Law Center, William & Mary Law School, Tulane University School of Law and the University of Miami School of Law. These top five teams all qualified for the International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition to be held in June in The Hague. The Canadian team from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University will also compete in The Hague.
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University also had a team competing in the Regional Round. The Haub Law team consisted of Jordan Thompson, Marina Fedak, Houston Porter, Nick Kryza and Samara Pizzaro. While the Haub Law team did not advance, team member Marina Fedak won second place for ‘Best Preliminary Round Oralist – Prosecution' and Jordan Thompson’s brief tied for second place for ‘Best Victims’ Advocate Memorial.’
Haub Law’s nationally ranked trial advocacy program includes teams of students who help to facilitate and run competitions, such as this, held on campus. The internal competition directors for the Regional Qualifying Round held on March 9-10 at Haub Law included students Sarah Kissel, Amanda Dinkin and Maggie Minas. “The opportunity to be involved in such a prestigious and global competition as the ICC Moot is a once in a lifetime experience,” said Sarah Kissel.
The ICC Moot was first organized in 2004 by Haub Law Professor Emeritus Gayl S. Westerman and Matthew E. Brotmann. At the time, the ICC moot was the world’s first moot court competition based on the law and procedures of the first permanent international tribunal dedicated to the prosecution of international criminal offenses. Since 2004, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has grown, and the Competition has grown with it. As such, in 2014, Haub Law partnered with the International Criminal Court and the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, Leiden University to become part of the global competition, the ICC Moot Court Competition, which is held annually in The Hague, Netherlands, with the final round judged at the ICC itself by ICC judges and legal officers. More recently, in 2017, the ICC Moot started its collaboration with the Internatinoal Bar Association (IBA), and in 2020 the IBA became a name partner in the Competition. The unique and prestigious annual competition at Haub Law now serves as a Regional Qualifying Round for that global competition.
2024 Regional Qualifying Round for the Americas and Caribbean results
BEST OVERALL
First: University of Chicago
Second: Georgetown University Law Center
Third: William and Mary Law School
BEST PRELIMINARY ROUND ORALISTS - PROSECUTION
First: Mahek Punjabi, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Second: Marina Fedak, Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
Third: Marie Ardy, University of Chicago
BEST PRELIMINARY ROUND ORALISTS - DEFENSE
First: Matthew Grabainski, Georgetown University Law Center
Second: Abigail Wettstein, University of Miami School of Law
Third: Isabella Grundseth, University of Chicago
BEST PRELIMINARY ROUND ORALISTS - VICTIMS' ADVOCATE
First: Charlotte Markstein, Tulane University School of Law
Second: Anna Guzman, University of Chicago
Third: Alicia Barry, Georgetown University Law Center
BEST PROSECUTION MEMORIAL
First: University of Chicago
Second: Tulane University School of Law
Third: Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
BEST DEFENSE MEMORIAL
First: William and Mary Law School
Second: University of Chicago
Third: Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
BEST VICTIMS' ADVOCATE MEMORIAL
First: University of Chicago
Second (TIE): Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Second (TIE): William and Mary Law School
Second (TIE): Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
SEMIFINALIST TEAMS
Georgetown University Law Center
Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Tulane University School of Law
University of Chicago
University of Miami School of Law
William & Mary Law School
PARTICIPATING TEAMS:
Barry University, Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law
Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
Georgetown University Law Center
Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Tulane University School of Law
University of Chicago
University of Miami School of Law
William & Mary Law School
