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| Appellate Moot Court Competition |
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In November 1994, Presiding Judge Verne A. Hodge and the Hon. Soraya Diase-Coffelt of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Bar Association, established the annual moot court competition for high school students of the Territory expressing an interest in analysis and debate in commemoration of Law Day. The competition showcases the talents of the Territory’s students in the areas of public speaking, advocacy, and legal analysis. The program is, overall, designed to give the students a basic understanding of United States and Virgin Islands government and civics as well as provide the students with insight into our judicial system.
Each year, the Moot Court Planning Committee of the Virgin Islands Bar Association sponsors a high school moot court competition for all the students of the Territory in grades 9-12. A "moot" is "a mock judicial proceeding set up to examine a hypothetical case as an academic exercise." The Moot Court Planning Committee writes the fact pattern and compiles a law library for the faculty and attorney coaches to teach the students. Two issues are presented in each fact pattern, and the subject matter is designed to teach Virgin Islands law to the participants. The library provides legal sources from which the coaches are to assist the students in understanding the law, applying the law to the facts of the fact pattern, and crafting oral arguments to present.
A panel of three Moot Justices listens to arguments presented, evaluates them on a 100-point scale according to 6 evaluation categories (4 out of 20 points, 2 out of 10 points), and ultimately, through their evaluations, select the winning teams and distinguish oralists. Students are evaluated the following general criteria: oral advocacy, knowledge of the specific area of the law, organization of the argument, responses to the judges' inquiries, creativity of the argument, and courtroom demeanor.
The Moot Justices are selected from three groups of volunteers. These include active judges of the courts having jurisdiction over the Virgin Islands, which are the: Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands, Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and District Court of the Virgin Islands. Moot Justices are also invited to sit on the competition panels from the pool of Senior Judges (judges who previously sat on a court (but no longer sit)), who served on one or more of the courts having jurisdiction over the Virgin Islands. Finally, active members of the Virgin Islands Bar Association are invited to serve as moot justices.
After months of preparation, the students compete over the course of two days. On the first day, the students compete within their districts, St. Croix District and St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island District. The top six squads from each district then advance to the championship.
Role of the Schools Each participating school selects up to twelve students to compete as moot litigators or serve as alternates. The teams also consist of non-arguing members who wish to learn in order to participate in the future. Each school is allowed to enter up to two squads of appellants and two squads of appellees. A squad consists of two moot litigators and an alternate.
A Faculty Coach from each school must be designated to serve as a contact person with the coaches and the students. It is every school’s exclusive responsibility to ensure students appear promptly and prepared at all practices scheduled by the attorney coaches. Failure to ensure active, prompt, and prepared student participation will result in the withdrawal of future invitations to participate in the competition extended to the school. Each school is solely responsible for selecting the students who will participate on its team and for grouping students into their squads.
The schools must recruit diversely drawing in students who show an aptitude for analysis and debate from all levels of academic achievement. Other factors to consider are the students’ interests. This includes both academic and non-academic interests. Different experiences and backgrounds of the participates leads to greater learning, and a team of students with diverse interests will facilitate greater learning.
The squads assign each student to argue one of the two issues presented based on the facts provided in the hypothetical case. Each student on the squad is given seven minutes to argue their position for their assigned issue.
Role of the Court The Judiciary of the Virgin Islands and the District Court of the Virgin Islands host the competition. In the St Croix District, the district round is hosted at the District Court of the Virgin Islands. In the St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island District, the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands host the competition at its courthouse in Crown Bay. The Judiciary of the Virgin Islands hosts the championship virtually.
Competition Goals The program's learning objectives are simple and direct. With the support of Attorney Coaches and Faculty Coaches, the Territory’s students are given the opportunity to learn to speak publicly and to employ their critical thinking skills to both plan a logical argument in advance founded in law and fact as well as to employ those same critical thinking skills actively, in real time, when responding to questioning. By participating in the competition, students learn critical thinking and analysis, organizing of thoughts and speeches, how to respond in real time, and more.
Through hosting such a competition, the VIBA seeks to increase community understanding of the judicial process and governmental operation, increase citizens' awareness of the roles of a lawyer and a judge, promote the community's awareness of current issues in the law, promote the study of the law, provide the opportunity to develop and advance public speaking and advocacy skills, improve community perceptions of the legal profession and lawyers, and provide financial education assistance to the students of the Territory.
Role of the Bar Association The Virgin Islands Bar Association administers the program, and the President of the VIBA appoints the co-chairs of the Moot Court Planning Committee. The Planning Committee is responsible for the planning and execution of the entire competition. The Moot Court Planning Committee writes the fact pattern and compiles a law library for the faculty and attorney coaches to teach the students. Two issues are presented in each fact pattern, and the subject matter is designed to teach Virgin Islands law, history, and geography to the participants. The committee also prepares and distributes the materials to the competing schools, and if needed, provides physical copies of the materials.
From the association’s membership who are willing to volunteer, the Planning Committee makes its best efforts to assign two lawyers per high school team to serve as Attorney Coaches. They assist the students in the study of the cases provided and the preparation and deliverance of the arguments.
The VIBA provides educational scholarships to the students on the winning teams. Students who place individually as well as the teams are awarded scholarships, and the Bar Association awards $17,500 in scholarships annually. The VIBA also provides trophies for the winning teams and medals to the individual oralists.
Scholarships, to be divided among each member of the team, are provided as follows: Champions $1,500; Second Place $1050; Third Place $900; and Fourth Place $675. The Best Oralist receives a $1,250 scholarship. Each of the runners up received $925 for First, $750 for Second, $300 for Third, and $150 each for Fourth and Fifth. A total of $7,500 in scholarships are awarded for the championship round. In the district rounds, scholarships are awarded to the students who place either individually or as a squad in the respective districts (STX District and STT-STJ-WI District). The scholarships in each district were awarded as follows:
(1) Individually: Best Oralist- $500; First Runner Up- $400; Second Runner Up- $350 ; Third Runner Up- $250. (2) Squads: Champions- $500 (split evenly); Second Place- $350 (split evenly); Third Place- $150 (split evenly).
With just a single annual donation of $10, if every active and inactive member of the bar donated, the entire moot court competition would be funded. If you wish to view a past competition, go to www.vicourts.org/media. On that webpage, select the “Video Archives” link. You can scroll chronologically or search “moot court” to view the recordings of past competitions.
Video presentation on Judge William H. Hastie is available here
Past Competition
2023 Competition The 29th annual Moot Court Competition was held on April 18, 2023 and April 20, 2023. 2023 Fact Pattern [live link] The St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island District round and the championship round were broadcast via the Virgin Islands Judiciary’s live-streaming platform. 29th Annual Moot Court Competition Day 2 - Judiciary of the US Virgin Islands (vicourts.org) The St. Croix District round was held at the District Court of the Virgin Islands. Nine schools entered 21 squads of competitors in the district rounds.
In the St. Croix District, the squad placements were: Champions-Good Hope Country Day School Appellees Tsehai Alfred and Wyatt Bracy, Second Place-St. Croix Central Appellants Bry’Nice Berley and Una Alexander, and Third Place-St. Croix Educational Complex Appellants Alani Arnold and Keanna Alphonse. Individually, the placements were: Best Oralist-Bry’Nice Berley, First Runner Up-Wyatt Bracy, Second Runner Up-Tsehai Alfred, Third Runner Up-Carmindy Pickering.
In the St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island District, the squad placements were: Champions-Antilles School Appellees Angeline Nairns and Aisha Khemani, Second Place-Charlotte Amalie High School Appellees Shayne`e Cherival and Kemiah Solomon, and Third Place-Sts. Peter & Paul Appellants Pierre Joseph and Ethan Farrell. Individually, the placements were: Best Oralist-Aisha Khemani, First Runner Up-Angeline Nairns, Second Runner Up-Shayne`e Cherival, Third Runner Up-Jovanny Jno-Pierre.
Twelve squads advanced to the championship. In addition to the top six listed above, Charlotte Amalie High School Appellees J’ovanny Jno-Pierre, Alondra James, and Ll’Nia Hermon(A); All Saints Cathedral School (both squads) Appellants Xania Fleming, Aaliyah Francis, and Arianna George(A) and Appellees Laila Evelyn and Cayla Petersen; St. Croix Central High School Appellants Carmindy Pickering and Hakim Kiture; St. Croix Seventh-Day Adventist School (both squads) Appellants J’john-na Charles and Keanna Alphonse and Appellees Eden Smith and Danny Philip;
The team placements were as follows: Champions-Good Hope Country Day School Appellees Tsehai Alfred and Wyatt Bracy; Second Place-St. Croix Seventh-Day Adventist School Appellees Eden Smith and Danny Philip; Third Place-Antilles School Appellees Angeline Nairns and Aisha Khemani; and Fourth Place-St. Croix Central High School Appellants Carmindy Pickering and Hakim Kiture. Scholarships, to be divided among each member of the team, were provided as follows: Champions $1,500; Second Place $1050; Third Place $900; and Fourth Place $675.
Individually, the placements were as follows: Best Oralist-Tsehai Alfred, First Runner Up-J’ovanny Jno-Pierre, Second Runner Up-Wyatt Bracy, Third Runner Up-Eden Smith, Foruth Runner Up-Carmindy Pickering, Fifth Runner Up-Alisha Khemani. The Best Oralist received a $1,250 scholarship. 2023 Annual Report.
In the St. Croix District, the team placements were: Champions-St. Croix Ed. Complex Appellants Alani Arnold, Nancy Parrilla, and Isabella Cruz(A); Second Place-St. Croix Central Appellants Carmindy Pickering, Una Alexander, and Erin Flynn(A); and Third Place-St. Croix Central Appellees Bry’Nice Berley, Lea Cornelius, and Angelina Springer(A). Individually, the placements were: Best Oralist-Una Alexander, First Runner Up-Nancy Parrilla, Second Runner Up-Bry'Nice Berley, Third Runner Up-Alani Arnold.
In the St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island District, the team placements were: Champions-St. Thomas-St. John Seventh Day Adventist School Appellees Ari-El Joshua and D’Kai Blake; Second Place-Antilles Appellees Kashish Chainani, Aisha Khemani, and Kayla Bellew(A); and Third Place-CAHS Apellees Shaudae Richardson, Shania Martin, and Ai’Leeziana Caceres(A). Individually, the placements were: Best Oralist-Mariah Loo, First Runner Up-Alisha Khemani, Second Runner Up-Shaude Richardson, Third Runner Up-D'Kai Blake.
Thirteen schools advanced to the championship. The team placements were: Champions-St. Croix Ed. Complex Appellants Alani Arnold, Nancy Parrilla, and Isabella Cruz(A); Second Place-Antilles Appellees Kashish Chainani, Aisha Khemani, and Kayla Bellew(A); Third Place-St. Croix Central Appellees Bry’Nice Berley, Lea Cornelius, and Angelina Springer(A); and Fourth Place-Antilles Appellants Ronit Totwani and Ritesh Alwani. Scholarships, to be divided among each member of the team, were provided as follows: Champions $1,500; Second Place $1050; Third Place $900; and Fourth Place $675. Individually, the placements were as follows: Best Oralist-Nancy Parilla, First Runner Up-Aisha Khemani, Second Runner Up-Ronit Totwani, Third Runner Up-Bry-Nice Berley, Foruth Runner Up-Alani Arnold, Fifth Runner Up-Una Alexander. The Best Oralist received a $1,250 scholarship. Each of the runners up received $925 for First, $750 for Second, $250 for Third, and $100 each for Fourth and Fifth. A total of $7,500 in scholarships were awarded. 2022 Annual Report. [live link] 2021 Competition The 27th annual Moot Court Competition commenced as scheduled on April 6, 2021. 2021 Fact Pattern [live link] The competition was live streamed and available for public viewing via the Judiciary of the Virgin Islands website www.vicourts.org. 27th Annual V.I. Moot Court Competition (Day 2) - Judiciary of the US Virgin Islands (vicourts.org) Recordings of the competition are available on the "Media Services" page of the Judiciary's website under the link "Video Archive." Additionally, Attorney General Denise George's remarks to the participants are available here:
The competition championship was held on Thursday, April 8, 2021. Chief Justice Hodge, of the V.I. Supreme Court, provided a welcome address to the students; and Delegate Stacey Plaskett delivered an engaging keynote speech that afternoon. The panel of judges for this round included as moot justices Chief Judge Wilma Lewis of the District Court of the Virgin Islands and Judge Theodore McKee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Maria Cabret, of the Virgin Islands Supreme Court, served as the moot chief justice. The rankings for individual oralists and teams were as follows: Teams: 1st Place: Antilles Appellants (Kaden Hughes and Ritesh Alwani); 2d Place: St. Croix Educational Complex Appellees (Keanna Alphonse and Nancy Parilla); 3d Place: Antilles Appellees (Kashish Chainani and Aisha Khemani); and 4th Place: St. Thomas 7th Day Appellees Team 2 (Amarah Creque and D’Andra Thomas). Individually, the placements were: Best Oralist-Amarah Creque of St. Thomas-St. John 7thDay Adventist School; 1st Runner Up- Kaden Hughes of Antilles School; 2d Runner Up-Nancy Parilla of St. Croix Educational Complex; 3d Runner Up-Kashish Chainani of Antilles School; 4th Runner Up-Benjamin Simpson of St. Croix Educational Complex 5th Runner Up-Ritesh Alwani of Antilles School. 2021 Annual Report.
2020 Competition The 26th annual Moot Court Competition. 2020 Fact Pattern [live link] 2019 Competition 2018 Competition 2017 Competition The students were presented with a hypothetical case seeking to enjoin the Moot University of the Virgin Islands from enforcing its “free speech zone” regulation enacted prior to the Commencement address by President of the United States, Ronald J. Crump. The Moot Petitioner asserted that the regulation, which requires that students sign a non-violence agreement, is a violation of the First Amendment right to free speech.
2015 Competition 2014 Competition
Champions Charlotte Amalie High School from left to right: Ernest Morris, Jr., Esq.,
The Eleventh Annual Virgin Islands High School Appellate Moot Court Competition was held on May 5, 2005, on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The Tenth annual Virgin Islands high school Moot Court Competition was held on May 6, 2004, on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Ninth annual Virgin Islands high school Moot Court Competition was held on May 8, 2003, on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Eighth annual Virgin Islands high school Moot Court Competition was held on May 2, 2002, on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Seventh annual Virgin Islands high school Moot Court Competition were held on May 4, 1995, and May 3, 2001, respectively on St. Thomas,
The Sixth Annual Virgin Islands high school Moot Court Competition was held May 11, 2000, on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Fifth annual Virgin Islands high school Moot Court Competition was held on May 5, 1999, on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Fourth annual Virgin Islands High School Moot Court Competition was held on May 7, 1998, on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Third annual Virgin Islands high school Moot Court Competition on was held on May 1, 1997, on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Second annual Virgin Islands high school Moot Court Competition was held on May 2, 1996, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The First annual Virgin Islands high school Moot Court Competition was held on May 4, 1995, on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. |
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