Kimberly Gauderman Associate Professor | UNM School of Law Clinical Programs
The School of Law recently saw one of its moot court teams distinguish itself at the 19th Annual Williams Institute Moot Court Competition. The event was held at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law, where 32 teams from various law schools across the country participated.
The School of Law sent two teams to the competition: Team 24, consisting of Kate Leung, Stella Leitner, and Vanessa Springer, and Team 31, which included Kieran Raney, Katie Beasley, and Celia Lee. Both teams competed in preliminary oral arguments, with Team 24 eventually advancing to the quarterfinals, semifinals, and ultimately, the final round. In their journey, Team 24 faced off against competitors from the University of Minnesota, UCLA, and Michigan State University.
The competition's final round aligned with the annual conference and fundraising gala of the Williams Institute. It centered on a legal problem regarding the dismissal of a school librarian who identified as asexual and challenged a school policy through a TikTok video. The legal queries involved whether asexuality qualifies as a protected class under Title VII and if the librarian's firing breached First Amendment rights. Team 24 was tasked with representing both the Respondent and the Petitioner at different stages of the competition.
Ultimately, Team 24 secured second place, with Stella Leitner receiving the Best Oral Advocate Award. Leitner expressed her initial apprehension about the competition but credited her rewarding experience to the support from coaches Professors England and Bach, as well as local legal professionals. Reflecting on her experience, Leitner stated, "The idea of delivering an oral argument in any setting—let alone at a national competition—terrified me. But thanks to the people involved, moot court couldn’t have been a better experience."
Professor Scott England, a moot court coach, praised the team's efforts, describing the experience as one of the highlights of his teaching career. He commented, "The team was just fantastic. After the semifinal round, one of the organizers pulled me aside to tell me that he was completely blown away by the quality of the team’s advocacy."
Looking ahead, England expressed confidence in the future success of the team members, emphasizing their qualities and potential in the legal field.
