A three-student team from the Wayne State University Law School has won the first-place award in the 53rd annual National Moot Court Competition. Final rounds in the competition, which began with regional contests last November, were held Jan. 27-30 in New York City. In winning the national championship, the Wayne State team (consisting of Dana Bennett of Lansing, Jennifer Savage of Dearborn and Carri Whittemore of Grosse Ile) defeated teams from six other universities in the final rounds.
The mock trial competition involved two constitutional issues that have divided the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and state appellate courts in recent years. One is whether an anonymous tip provides sufficient reasonable suspicion under the Fourth Amendment to support a police officer's investigatory stop of an automobile. The other is whether a life sentence imposed under a recidivist statute is so grossly disproportionate to the crime committed as to violate the Eighth Amendment's proscription against cruel and unusual punishment. The U.S. Supreme Court will consider both issues in its 2002-03 term.
One hundred eighty-nine teams from throughout the country entered the regional competition, with first- and second-place teams advancing to the final rounds. The Wayne State team earned the right to advance by placing second in regional competition at Ohio State University last November.
In a series of finals rounds before a distinguished panel of judges, lawyers and educators in New York City, the trio of Wayne State students defeated six competing teams - including teams from the University of Georgia, University of Texas and University of Washington - to earn top honors. Team member Dana Bennett also received several awards as Best Oral Advocate in the competition.
The competition is sponsored by the Young Lawyers Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and the American College of Trial Lawyers.