The University of Florida College of Law beat out 19 teams to compete in the quarter finals of the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps inaugural National Moot Court Competition Nov. 12-14 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla. Amelia Williams, David Evans and Ryan Elizabeth Eastmoore represented UF Law.

“This [semi-final round] panel had some very poignant questions,” said UF second-year law student David Evans. “We have had a wonderful time being able to see an inside view of what JAG life is like both generally in the Navy as well as specific different legal issues.”

The participants also had the opportunity to learn about life in the Navy during visits to Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron Five (VP-5) and USS The Sullivans (DDG-68).

“I know it is not everyday that students get to see those things so it was interesting and unique getting to see that,” said Evans. “JAG officers were with us answering questions about their experiences on ships and the different things they have been able to do since they were in the Navy.”

To prepare for the competition, each team was given a record of appeal consisting of a post trial argument to the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals. The problem was developed by Navy Judge Advocate Lt.j.g. Ian Maclean and followed a guilty conviction of a Navy lieutenant commander for violations the Uniform Code of Military Justice article 106a (attempted espionage), article 95 (flight from apprehension), and article 112a (wrongful possession of controlled substances). He was sentenced to a dishonorable discharge from the military, 53 years of confinement, and total forfeitures of benefits. The appeal was on the evidentiary rulings made by the military judge including the suppression of physical evidence seized from the residence of the accused, refusal to suppress the physical evidence seized from the vehicle, and refusal to suppress the statements made by the accused to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

“The problem that has been given to them is one that, although is a military law specific topic, involves general constitutional principals of self incrimination and search and seizure,” said Andrew Effron, chief judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

“So they get to apply the legal skills they have learned in law school, have those skills tested in competition with other students, and have experienced judges ask them tough questions and evaluate them in oral arguments.”

The competition consisted of four full rounds and three final elimination rounds and with students arguing in front of a prestigious bench of judges, including a sitting federal judge, the chief judge of the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the chief judge of the Department of the Navy.

In all, there were more than 27 judges, both civilian and military, who listened to the oral arguments.

Eight schools advanced to quarter-final rounds including, UF Law, Barry University, Duke Law, Florida A&M, University of Houston Law Center, The John Marshall Law School, Southern University Law Center, and Stetson University College of Law.

For more information about the competition, visit www.jag.navy.mil/NationalMootCourtCompetition.htm.