Moot Court Team Conquers Family Law Competition
Rob Luthman
Issue date: 3/27/07 Section: News
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This year's competition presented teams with a unique factual scenario involving in vitro fertilization. The problem arose from a fertilization clinic's accidental implantation of one couple's embryo into the uterus of another woman. Competitors were faced with issues regarding the legal rights of the "genetic" parents versus the "gestational" parents as well as what, if any, compensation was due to the gestational parents should they not be deemed the child's legal parents. Regarding the competition's problem, Pete Whelan remarked that the fact pattern addressed a "truly difficult and unsettled area of law" that allowed competitors to persuade the court "to adopt the legal tests we felt benefited not only our own clients, but also future couples seeking fertility treatments through IVF."
According to Andrea Loveless, the team entered the competition expecting "simply to do our best," but realizing that if they preformed up to their capabilities the team had "as good of a chance as anyone to do well." Nonetheless, the GMUSL Team knew that they had their work cut out for them. "It was apparent that the other teams were well prepared," remarked Melanie Fett. However all three competitors agreed that, thanks to the help of Professors Ernie Eisenstadt and Suzzette Hurley as well as other members of the Moot Court Board, they were well equipped to handle the legal nuances raised by the issues at bar.
The turning point in the competition for GMUSL's team occurred the night before the semi-final and final rounds at the aptly named Victory Café. Over dinner and a beer, the team discussed the upcoming day and, according to Whelan, reached "a clarity in our arguments that we had never achieved up to that point." The team attributes much of that epiphany to the "good vibes of the Victory Café." The following day, Fett, Loveless, and Whelan defeated Brooklyn Law School in the semi-final round before eliminating George Washington to claim First Place for George Mason.
The team wishes to reiterate its thanks to Ernie Eisenstadt, Suzzette Hurley, Andrew McNiven, Stephanie Arnold, and Susan Courtwright for their probing questions during numerous mooting sessions, as well as to the rest of George Mason's Moot Court Board and faculty.
As a final note, the Moot Court Board reminds all students and faculty that the First Year Competition begins this Saturday, March 24, 2007 with advancing rounds to be held on Saturday, March 31 and finals on April 13. Please be apprised of upcoming reminders regarding the competition, and good luck to all competitors!