Moot Court

Moot Court

About Moot Court

Moot Court focuses on the appellate court process and is designed to provide students the opportunity to present a simulated oral argument and respond to questions posed by a panel of volunteer judges. Arguments are evaluated on the application of the law to the facts of the case.

Moot Court also gives many students their first experience in legal writing by allowing participants to compose a legal brief related to their arguments that will be reviewed and scored by volunteer attorneys. By focusing on the applicability of Constitutional law to current legal issues, students get an opportunity to strengthen critical thinking skills and increase their understanding of the Constitution and judicial system.

For more information, please contact Ryan Suskey at rsuskey@oclre.org or call (614) 485-3506.

Costs

Sample Invoice

Moot Court Case Files

Each year OCLRE creates an original case file that challenges students to tackle contemporary legal issues. Cases always include at least one constitutional law issue and an additional constitutional or statutory interpretation issue.

The 2025 Moot Court Case File will be released in Spring 2025.

Case Materials Cost

Previous Cases

Looking for a past case file? Contact Ryan Suskey at rsuskey@oclre.org to inquire about any of the case files listed below:

• 2024 – State of Buckeye v Julie Jenkins
  Julie Jenkins, a high school journalist, has been recently hired as a writer for the online journal Fueling Our Future, covering the upcoming primary election for governor of Buckeye. Suspecting that one of the candidates is being less than truthful about their campaign promises, she signs up to volunteer for the campaign where she overhears the candidate on the phone and realizes that she was right. After posting on social media about what she heard, Julie was charged with and found guilty of the crime of Campaign Infiltration. Although she appealed, her conviction was affirmed. Julie is now challenging her conviction in the Supreme Court of Buckeye. Moot Court teams will argue on behalf of both sides as to whether Julie's conduct violated the statute under which she is charged and whether the statute impacts Julie's rights under the First Amendment.
  

• 2023 – Austin Jones v State of Buckeye
  Austin Jones, formerly the high school class president at Honey Badger High School and now a college student, was asked to plan his five-year class reunion. Notorious during his high school career for his pranks, Jones took the party planning in full stride, ordering food and booking entertainment and rental space. His last task in planning was the ultimate party prank: stuffing a pinata full of marijuana chocolate. On his way to the event, Jones is arrested during a routine traffic stop, after the smell of marijuana coming from the car prompted a search by the police officer. Jones argued that the search was unreasonable and conducted without probable cause. Students will consider whether the search was constitutional based on Jones’s Fourth Amendment rights and whether the amount of marijuana Jones possessed resulted in the appropriate offense. Moot Court requires students to look at both sides of these exciting legal questions and to practice their advocacy skills before a mock Supreme Court!  

• 2022 – State of Buckeye v Kat Hood
  The 2022 Ohio Moot Court Case File asks students to grapple with the Fourth Amendment and the challenges of balancing public safety and individual rights. The case centers on 18 year old student Kat Hood and an interaction with a police officer in which a shouted accusation from a crowded food court leads to a search of Kat's belongings. Students will consider whether the novelty crossbow Kat carries qualifies as a "deadly weapon" under the meaning of Buckeye Revised Code, and whether a shouted accusation by an unidentified bystander creates sufficient probable cause for the officer to search Kat's bag. Moot Court requires students to look at both sides of these exciting legal questions and to practice their advocacy skills before a mock Supreme Court.

• 2021 – State of Buckeye v Guillermo Ronaldo
  Sixteen-year-old Guillermo Ronaldo—known as Guile—is a kicker for the Honey Badgers football team. During the final game of the season, Guile is involved in a racially charged altercation with an opponent after some unsportsmanlike conduct that leads Guile to punch the opposing player. On Guile’s way home from the football game, he is picked up by police. During interrogation, Guile admits to hitting the defensive end—after which the detective informs him that the player has died. Guile is convicted of murder. Although he appeals, his conviction is affirmed. Guile is now challenging his conviction in the Supreme Court of Buckeye. Moot Court teams will argue whether Guile’s conduct fits the crime of murder under the statute and whether Guile voluntarily waived his rights and offered a voluntary confession.

• 2020 – CANCELED

• 2019 – State of Buckeye v Ozzy Mercury
  When aspiring rocker, Ozzy Mercury, isn't touring, he lives alone in a motor home he inherited from his mom. He parks it on a little-used public road behind an abandoned department store and takes advantage of some of the sewer, water, and electrical hookups. But since it’s not the best area of town, Ozzy bought a pistol for protection. One day, he was practicing his guitar, and someone banged on the door. He answered the door, gun in hand, only to find the police. He narrowly avoided being shot by the surprised officer; however, he could not avoid being convicted of a felony for having a loaded firearm in a vehicle. Mercury will argue that the particular characteristics of the pistol, how he possessed, and where he possessed it means he didn’t actually violate the statute. Second, he will argue that even if he did violate the statute, the statute, as it’s being applied to him in this case, violates his rights under the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

• 2018 – United States v Cado Toste
  Cado Toste, an 18-year-old senior at Buckeye High School in Harmony, brings an appeal of his conviction for material support of a terrorist organization. Toste was charged and convicted based on actions he took on his YouTube channel to promote and support the work of Oakenfist, an environmental group labelled a terrorist organization by the U.S. Government. In his challenge, Toste alleges that his conduct (creating YouTube videos praising Oakenfist, liking/sharing Oakenfist content, etc.) does not meet the statutory definition of material support, or in the alternative, is protected speech under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Students advocating in this case will argue on behalf of both Toste and the U.S. to persuade a mock Supreme Court as to how the case should be handled.

• 2017 – Tracy Matthews v State of Ohio
  Harry the Honey Badger, mascot of Harrison High School, is stolen from the school. Pictures of Harry show up on social media from different sites across Ohio. The principal was determined to find out which student is responsible for these shenanigans. The closest the school administrators could come to matching the thief group identity is with the Harrison Hooplas, the high school comedy club. Using the school’s policy allowing administration to search students’ cell phones, the principal called all Hoopla members to the office and searched the phones. While all had pictures on the phone, only Matthews had the pictures with the exact geotagged time and location for the photos. Matthews is appealing based on the search was a violation of his Fourth Amendment protections as well as the validity of the consent via the school policy.

• 2016 – In Re S.S.
  Sarah Stewart has just started high school at Grassland Valley High and is hoping to make a name for herself by recreating a prank her older sister once played on a rival high school. Inadvertently, Sarah caused more damage than intended, and ruined the rival’s field days before their homecoming game. Sarah is questioned at her school by the principal, but with the uniformed school resource officer present. Stewart was later arrested and adjudicated as delinquent. Students in this year’s High School Moot Court case will explore Sarah’s rights during this interrogation, and the impact these rights might have on the outcome of her case.

• 2015 – Samuel Bennett Fields v State of Franklin
  Samuel Fields is a member, lead singer, and writes music for the band Don’t Tread, whose message is strongly anti-government and song lyrics advocate committing acts of violence. Fields is also associated with a group of about fifty anti-government activists dubbed the Smallville Militia. The Militia engages in military-style training exercises, acquires firearms illegally, and engages in various acts of vandalism against government property. Fields was eventually caught and convicted of breaking and entering and criminal vandalism when caught at Town Hall with cans of spray paint and making paint lines over the front entryway. Fields was sentenced to jail with an added enhancement to the sentences because the court found Fields committed the crimes “while participating in a criminal gang” in violation of state law. Fields challenged the gang enhancement that the state failed to prove either the band or the Smallville Militia meets the statutory definition of a criminal gang. Fields also challenges the statute is unconstitutional as it infringes upon his right to association.

• 2014 – Charlie Charleston v State of Ohio
  As Charlie Charleston parks his car on the street in front of his parents’ house on a snowy December night, he exits to get a bag from the trunk. Charleston is startled by a man wearing a ski mask, dark clothing, and a shovel. Charleston pulls a gun and threatens the man that he will shoot. In an attempt to stop, the man slips on ice. Charleston interprets this as attempt to strike him with the shovel and fires at the believed assailant. Charleston leaves the scene, but ultimately reports the occurrence to the police. Charleston returns to the scene, is confronted by the police and placed under arrest and held in the police cruiser. The police search Charleston’s car and find an iPad in plain sight that was on and not password protected. The officers found a document containing some sort of “hit list” that included the dead man. Charleston is charged with murder. On appeal, Charleston is challenging the motion to suppress evidence from the iPad after a warrantless search and the trial court improperly decided his immunity under the state’s Stand Your Ground statute.

Moot Court Competition

Registration Cost

*Schools are limited to a maximum of two (2) teams for the 2024-25 competition.

Please contact Ryan Suskey at rsuskey@oclre.org or (614) 485-3506 for addition information or questions.

FAQ

How do I get started?
If you or your school/organization are new to the Moot Court Program, welcome! We’re glad you’re here. First, you will need the case file.  Once you have ordered the case file, it will be sent to you digitally.  

Do you offer training so I can learn more about Moot Court, what it is, and how I have my students participate?
Yes! You should attend our Constitution Camp in the fall.  This training will give teachers information about content, teaching strategies, and classroom applications for both our Moot Court and We the People programs.  If you’re unable to attend Constitution Camp, contact us and we can try to work out something on an individual basis.  Additionally, you can use the lessons/resources already available on our website. 

I’ve got my case materials. Is that all? Am I ready to compete?
Not quite! Team registration is a separate cost and registration form.  A team consists of 3-6 students. We strongly suggest enrolling more team members to account for potential changes in the roster.

How is the Moot Court Competition Structured?
There are two phases. Once you have ordered your case file and registered your team, you will need to start on the first phase of competition: brief writing.  Brief scores account for 40% of your overall score. Once you have submitted your brief, all teams compete for the first time at the competition at the Ohio Supreme Court in Columbus. All teams will compete in the preliminary rounds,  and advancing teams will compete in Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the final round on the same day.

I don’t want to compete. Can I still participate?
Absolutely! Taking part in the Moot Court competition is not required. Once you’ve ordered the case file, you have everything you need to run Moot Court in your classroom. Need help setting that up? Contact Ryan Suskey (rsuskey@oclre.org) or call (614) 485-3510.

My students and I are struggling with the start-up. Who can help us?
We have teacher mentors for all of our programs, including moot court. Teacher mentors have expressed willingness to help other teachers who are new to a program, to answer questions from the teacher perspective or offer advice. Contact Ryan Suskey (rsuskey@oclre.org) or call (614) 485-3510 for assistance.

How much time should my students and I spend on practice and preparation?
The short yet complex answer is: it varies. Some teams are classroom-based and therefore spend class time each week preparing. Other teams are extra-curricular and meet one or more times per week, before or after school, or on weekends. Others may only have time to meet a few times per month. There is no right or wrong answer. Figure out what works best for you, your fellow advisors (if any), and your students.  Many teams spend time over a few months preparing.  Some teams spend time in advance of the case release going over the basics of moot court, such as the appellate court system, how to read a court opinion, constructing legal arguments, etc.

I don’t have a legal advisor. Do I need one?
We do not require that moot court teams have a legal advisor, however, most teachers appreciate assistance from volunteer attorneys, who help students understand case law, courtroom procedure, and etiquette. Often times the legal advisor is the parent of a student or a local attorney who volunteers in his/her community. The time commitment for volunteer legal advisors varies and is worked out between the teacher/team advisor and attorney. If you are unable to find a legal advisor, contact Ryan Suskey (rsuskey@oclre.org) or call (614) 485-3510 and we may be able to put you in contact with an interested local attorney.

I have a question about or found a discrepancy in, the facts of the case and/or a witness statement. What do I do?
An errata, corrected errors for the case file, will be posted on the Moot Court page as needed.  Errata questions must be submitted by the teacher or legal advisor, not students, and should be directed to Ryan Suskey, rsuskey@oclre.org.

My school doesn’t have a moot court team, but I want to get involved. What can I do?
Are you a high school student? Start by talking to a teacher – it could be a social studies teacher, the drama teacher, or even the principal. If you and three or more interested students are willing to take on the challenge, the teacher may be willing, too. There is some expense involved, so make sure to factor that into consideration. If you get buy-in from school personnel, refer the person to the top of this list of FAQs for next steps. If a student can’t convince a teacher in his/her school, please contact us. On occasion, there are other opportunities to get involved.

I am having trouble with the online order form and am getting frustrated. What should I do?
Don’t worry – OCLRE is here to help! Call us at (614) 485-3510  and ask for Cathy Godfrey. She can guide you through problems and make sure you get what you need. Additionally, Cathy can answer questions about usernames and passwords, as well as payment options. We endeavor to continually improve our online order and registration processes to benefit our customers, and your feedback helps us to do so.

What are the payment options for online orders and registrations? Do I have to use a credit card?
We offer several payment options. You may pay with a credit card, request to be invoiced, or enter a purchase order (PO) number. If the PO number is not known at the time an order is placed, you may select the purchase order option and then enter “pending” for the number.

How do I know if my order/registration has been completed successfully?
When orders and registrations have been submitted successfully to us, an automatic email confirmation is generated and should arrive in your inbox within minutes. If you do not receive a confirmation email within an hour, please contact our office at 614-485-3510.

A few helpful hints for proper form completion:

• Follow the process all the way through, using the “Next” and “Submit” buttons.
• Complete all required (*) fields or you will not be able to proceed/finish
• Complete the payment portion of the form, even if you are not paying by credit card. Other options that you can select include requesting an invoice or entering a PO number (or indicate that a PO is in process and the number is “pending”)