Law Students Win National Energy/Sustainability Court Competition

The emergence of energy law as a focus for study and practice has taken hold at Duquesne. The topic was highlighted this past weekend at the prestigious National Energy and Sustainability Moot Court Competition, where two DU law students garnered top honors.

The event, held March 27-29 at the West Virginia University School of Law, highlights emerging trends in energy law and recent developments in sustainable energy production. Forty teams participated in the competition, which focused on the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.

Members of the law school’s Appellate Moot Court Board, Aleksandra Kocelko and David Leake, argued on and off brief eight times and defeated a team from the University of North Dakota in the final round.

In addition to winning the overall competition, Leake won the third Best Oralist Award.

Duquesne’s second team of Paul Roman, Lisa Brunner and David Franz argued on and off brief six times and emerged as quarterfinalists. They also won the third Best Brief award at the competition.

Assistant Law Professor Erin Karsman and law student Cara Pinto coached both teams.

Additionally, a team of Duquesne law students won the coveted Best Brief award at the 29^th annual Dean Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence Competition, marking the second consecutive year that Duquesne students have won for Best Brief. The national competition provides law students an opportunity to write an appellate brief addressing evidentiary issues in a contemporary context.

Zack Bombatch and Lauren Gailey reached the quarterfinals at the competition, held from March 27- 29 at Brooklyn Law School.