Seventy students from 13 schools will be the first to participate in Ohio’s inaugural Moot Court Competition. The Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE) will host the competition on May 20 at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center.

The Moot Court will be streamed live on the Ohio Channel Tuesday beginning at 9 a.m.
The Moot Court Competition focuses on the appellate court process. Students will present a simulated oral argument on behalf of both the appellant and appellee, and respond to questions posed by a panel of judges. The competition also gives many students their first experience in legal writing. It requires them to compose legal briefs that are reviewed and scored by attorneys. Locating the competition at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center, the home of the Ohio Supreme Court, also provides students with an authentic culminating activity.

“We are very excited to bring this new and original program to Ohio students. The response from our teachers and students has exceeded our expectations for the first year of the competition,” OCLRE Executive Director Lisa Eschleman said. “Moot Court is a wonderful opportunity for students to improve their critical thinking and written argumentative skills.” 

Teams competing on Tuesday will be from: Archbishop Hoban High School (Summit County); Gilmour Academy (Lake County); Lake High School (Stark County); Marysville High School (Union County); Notre Dame Cathedral Latin (Cuyahoga County); Pleasant High School (Marion County); South Webster High School (Scioto County); Springfield High School (Clark County); St. Frances DeSales High School (Franklin County); Upper Arlington High School (Franklin County); Valley High School (Scioto County); Van Wert High School (Van Wert County); and Village Academy (Delaware County).

According to the scenario the students will argue, the defendant arrives home on a dark winter evening, sees another person approaching him, and shoots and kills the other person. Police search the defendant’s car and find evidence indicating that the defendant knew and intended to kill the victim. After the defendant is convicted of murder, he files an appeal, arguing that the search of his car was a violation of his Fourth Amendment rights and that the shooting was justified by the “stand your ground” law.

The OCLRE is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization whose goal is to improve society by developing citizens empowered with an understanding of our democratic system. The Supreme Court of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Ohio State Bar Association and the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Foundation are OCLRE sponsors. The Moot Court program is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Ohio State Bar Foundation.