Loras Moot Court team advanced to nationals after securing the third position in this past weekend’s 2011 Upper Midwest Regional Moot Court Tournament held at Loras.

In a fierce compeition of 14 teams, Arkansas State University clinched the first and second positions. Other teams represented Arkansas State University, Macalester College, Eastern Illinois University and Drake University.

The finals were judged by Iowa Supreme Court Justice Bruce Zaeger, Loras alums Mike Conmey (’02) and Matt McElligott (’04). The three judges agreed that this year featured the most “eloquent, passionate, and knowledgeable” groups they had the pleasure of seeing.

“I think this has by far been the best group I have ever seen. Many are better than current practicing lawyers that I have heard,” said Zaeger. “There was great oral advocacy; teams answered questions better than most would.”

Just before announcing the winners, Conmey said, “The devil is in the details. It wasn’t easy sitting and finding the distinctions for any of us [judges].”

“Loras College was excited to be the host of the regional moot trial event and look forward to doing it again next year,” said Christopher Budzisz, one of the Moot Court program directors and professor of politics at Loras College.

Moot Court is a competition in appellate advocacy modeled after what happens at the United States Supreme Court. Teams compete from a fictional case problem involving real areas of constitutional law and actual U.S. Supreme Court precedents. This year’s case problem involved the First and Fourth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Moot Court competition marks emphasis on students’ ability to create a legal argument and respond to unscripted questions from a panel of judges, not unlike the goings on in the U.S. Supreme Court. It places emphasis on their analytical abilities.

If you want to see future lawyers presenting their cases, this weekend’s Moot Court Tournament will be the place to go to.

Loras will host the 2011 Upper Midwest Regional Moot Court Tournament on Friday, Nov. 11 and Saturday, Nov. 12. Moot Court is a competition in appellate advocacy modeled after what happens at the United States Supreme Court. Teams compete from a fictional case problem involving real areas of constitutional law with actual U.S. Supreme Court precedents.

“This year’s case problem involves the First and Fourth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution,” said Chris Budzisz, professor of politics.

The tournament is one of only eight such regional tournaments in the U.S. The winning teams advance to the national championships held in January. Loras will welcome 13 other teams including Arkansas State University, Macalester College, Eastern Illinois University and Drake University.

The participating students present an oral argument before a panel of judges and must be able to represent both the petitioner and the respondent. In each round, two teams go head to head with each other for a total of 40 minutes – each two-person team presenting 20 minutes of unscripted oral argument to the hearing’s judge. The judges consist of local attorneys and real-life judges and magistrates.

“We are fortunate to have a strong pool of judges, and we are especially proud of the fact that Justice Bruce Zager, sitting member of the Iowa Supreme Court, will be presiding over the tournament’s championship round on Saturday, Nov. 12,” Budzsiz added.

Molly Menster and Tina Sio are looking to get legally married in Iowa.

DUBUQUE -The unanimous Iowa Supreme Court decision on overturning the same sex marriage ban is being questioned by some Iowa citizens.

Lou Oswald, 2008 Republican candidate for Dubuque’s 27th District for the House of Representatives, says “It’s not about my opinion; we all know what that is, marriage is between a man and a woman. The issue here is hearing the voices of the citizens.”

Oswald says that he is working with other citizens that share the same view to get the vote back to the people. They have until May 1st to appeal this lawsuit.

Oswald and others who oppose the new law are taking advantage of their democratic rights.

Although lesbian couple, Molly Menster and Tina Sio, feel the Iowa Supreme Court made a wise decision they feel it is the Iowa citizens right to push for the vote.

“It is their right to work to get this put on the ballot and have a vote by the people, if that is their prerogative that is their right,” commented Menster.

For those who do oppose the legalization of same sex marriage and want a vote, Menster suggests for them to read the decision.

“It is so well written and so thought out they made a decision that is firmly rooted in our Iowa constitution,” said Menster.

You can find the Iowa Supreme Court’s Decision here: Full Decision

The couples believe the court made their decision based on the roots of the Iowa constitution and the separation between church and state.

Sio comments, “The judges have done their research on it and know the constitution and know whether or not this denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.”

Menster says the court set aside their personal beliefs and values and strictly looked at the constitution. “It has nothing to do with religion it’s about a set of rights that has been denied to a class of people, gay and lesbian people, without any good reason. There is no good legal reason to deny us these rights.”

Menster and Sio feel this is victory is not just about having a wedding reception but about the emotional and physical protection the law gives them. The couple has already committed a ceremony to dedicate their lives to each other but is looking to become legally married in the near future.

A complete interview with Ingrid Evans-Olson, one of the women named in the lawsuit regarding same sex marriage that reached the Iowa Supreme Court can be read on our blog: Full Interview

Felicia Carner can be reached at Felicia.Carner@loras.edu