National
Champs
UM Moot Court
team takes top title
Don't argue with these people. You'll probably lose. A trio of Montana
law students brought home a national championship title from New York City when they aced
the National Moot Court Competition this month.
The winning team -- Taryn Stampfl of Eureka, John Mudd of Missoula and Bobbi Frazer of
Plains and Billings -- represented the UM School of Law at the final competition, held
Jan. 31-Feb. 3. They triumphed over 13 teams during four days of elimination rounds.
Coached by Visiting Assistant Professor Larry Howell and law school Associate Dean
Melissa Harrison, the students earned their first-place spot arguing in front of some of
the country's top legal figures, including judges from U.S. District Court, the U.S. Court
of Appeals and the New York Court of Appeals.
Montana last won the moot court championship in 1981.
The three Montana students and their coaches landed in New York after trouncing the
opposition at November's regional competition in Spokane, Wash. The region's second-place
team, the University of Washington, joined UM at the New York matchup but was knocked out
of the competition when it came up against Montana in the semifinals.
The winning team's appellate brief took second place in both regional and national
competition. Appelate briefs contribute to 40 percent of the overall score. Oral arguments
make up the remaining 60 percent.
The team is sponsored by the Butte law firm of Poore, Roth & Robinson, P.C.
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