The Franklin College Political Science and Pre-Law program is celebrating the achievements of its moot court teams in recent competitions. Moot court presents students with a fictional legal dispute in which they must study real case law and use legal reasoning to present oral arguments before a panel of judges. This year, Franklin College’s moot court teams participated in two regional competitions governed by the American Moot Court Association (AMCA).

At the Windy City Regional, which was held from Nov. 10-11, all Franklin College moot court competitors demonstrated the skill and determination necessary to advance beyond the preliminary round in the competition. Amy Garrido-Portillo and Sierra Downey reached the regional Sweet 16, as did Kendall Potts and Bella Ferree. Cara Mullen and Meghan Moses claimed victory over a team from Michigan State University, finishing as semifinalists in the top four teams. Each earned a Top Ten Orator award, Mullen placing fifth and Moses placing third. Mullen and Moses qualified for coveted bids to the national tournament.

Continuing the success in the Midwest Regional at Wooster College, Schyler Altherr and Spencer Fears excelled in the preliminary rounds of their first regional competition ever. At the knockout stage, the team beat a strong duo from Clemson University to advance to the quarterfinals, placing in the top eight teams. Fears secured a Top Ten Orator award, placing seventh. Emily Rector served as an alternate. Like their teammates, Altherr and Fears earned a national tournament bid as well.

In January, Rector and Moses represented Franklin College against teams from around the country at the Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University in the preliminary rounds of the AMCA National Tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Altherr and Fears represented Franklin College at the preliminary rounds of the AMCA National Tournament at the University of Kentucky’s J. David Rosenberg College of Law in Lexington, Kentucky.

The political science and pre-law program is extremely proud of the students’ learning as well as their accomplishments. “While it’s fun to celebrate wins, the students know external recognition is not the point. Most importantly, they took a risk on a big challenge and demonstrated healthy competitiveness, strategic thinking, growth mindset, resilience, communication and teamwork. They set goals and focused on reaching their own standards of excellence. I’m thankful to be their coach,” said Associate Professor of Political Science Allison Fetter-Harrott, J.D., Ph.D., Williams Chair of Law and Public Service.

Franklin College is a newer school on the AMCA scene. This is only the third year the College has participated in the AMCA tournament. The two teams earning bids at AMCA national this year followed in the footsteps of Maggie McComas ’22 and Clayton Black ’23, who competed in nationals in 2022.

The teams consisted of the following Franklin College students:

Schyler Altherr of Pendleton.

Sierra Downey of Greenwood.

Spencer Fears of Trafalgar.

Bella Ferree of Franklin.

Amy Garrido Portillo of Greenwood.

Meghan Moses of Tipton.

Cara Mullen of Carthage.

Kendall Potts of Haubstadt.

Emily Rector of Aurora.

The Elmon & Lucile Williams Chair fund supports Franklin College’s Model United Nations and moot court teams. The programs are supported by the Branigin Engaged Learning Fund from Academic Affairs, as well as other funds brought to Franklin College through the efforts of the Institutional Advancement team. 

For more information, contact the Office of Communications at (317) 738-8185.

POSTED Feb 9, 2024