C-N team is runner-up against Vanderbilt in Moot Court tournament

^{Pictured during the 2019 Appellate Moot Court Collegiate Challenge in Nashville are, from left to right: Dean of the Belmont College of Law and former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales; Judge Neal McBrayer from the Tennessee Court of Appeals; Carson-Newman student David H. McConnell III; Chief Administrative Law Judge Richard Collier; and Carson-Newman students Luke Patton and Thomas Fodor, who won the “Best Petitioner” award.}

(Nov. 29, 2018) NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A team from Carson-Newman University finished as the runner-up against Vanderbilt University at this year’s Appellate Moot Court Collegiate Challenge in Nashville.

During the AMC3, colleges send undergraduate students as petitioner and respondent with a prepared brief to argue a theoretical appellate case. The challenge took place Nov. 15-18. Semi-final rounds were argued in the Old Supreme Court Chamber in the Capitol Building. The final round was held in the Tennessee Supreme Court Building.

The team, composed of students David McConnell, Thomas Fodor and Luke Patton, lost 4-2. Fodor received one of two “Best Petitioner” awards given at the tournament.

The Moot Court challenge runs concurrently with the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature. Student members of the TISL acted as “justices” during the theoretical cases. In addition, prominent judges and attorneys judged the final round, including former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
“He was very impressed with our students and was effusive in his praise for their knowledge of the law and their skill in presenting the case,” faculty sponsor Dr. Kara Stooksbury said. “Our students gain so many valuable skills through preparing for and participating in this competition. It’s very rewarding to see how well they compete against students from other institutions. I’m extremely proud of them.”

This was C-N’s sixth year participating in the tournament and third consecutive year to finish the tournament as runner-up.

Founded in 1851, Carson-Newman is a Christian liberal arts university located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, among the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The University has over 2,500 students and offers 50 undergraduate majors, as well as associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees.