School of Law Hosts Preliminary Round of National Moot Court Tournament
March 27, 2025
The American Moot Court Association (AMCA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of legal skills among undergraduate students. To achieve this, the AMCA organizes and hosts national moot court competitions where students can apply their legal knowledge and refine their advocacy skills. These competitions are modeled after U.S. Supreme Court proceedings.
This year, the UNM School of Law was one of four schools nationwide selected to host a Preliminary Round of the National Tournament. The event was held January 25-26, 2025, and brought 32 teams and 62 competitors from schools across the country to Albuquerque. Schools in attendance included Baylor University, Benedictine College, Berea College, California State University, Long Beach, Colorado Christian University, San Francisco State University, Texas Christian University, University of California, San Diego, United States Air Force Academy, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Davis, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of North Texas, and University of Southern California.
The School of Law tournament began with three rounds of preliminary competition before advancing to its elimination stages. The final matchup featured students from the University of California, Berkeley, and students from the University of North Texas. After a well fought tournament, the University of California, Berkeley took first place, while the University of North Texas finished as the runner-up. The top oralist award went to Micah Frazho from the University of California, Berkeley. The final round was judged by a notable panel of legal professionals including Judge Shammara Henderson, Judge Megan Duffy, Judge Gerald Baca, Justice Michael Vigil, and Retired Judge Michael Bustamante, whose expertise and insights contributed to the high level of competition and excellence displayed throughout the event.
The tournament not only highlighted the strength of undergraduate orators but also allowed the School of Law to engage with potential future law students, showcasing the School’s legal education and resources. This initiative aligns with broader efforts of the School to introduce talented students to the alumni community and offer them a glimpse into the experience that lies ahead in their legal careers.
Judge Baca stated, “I think the National Moot Court Tournament held at the UNM School of Law was a great event. It was well-run, the student advocates were exceptional, and as a result, the students gained invaluable knowledge, insight, and experience into the practice and procedure of the appellate courts - knowledge and experience upon which they can found their own career paths in the law. I hope the UNM School of Law continues to support and host preliminary rounds as well as a final round of this tournament because it not only promotes our amazing law school but it exposes our New Mexico students to quality programs such as this. I look forward to serving as a judge in this competition again.”
The UNM School of Law thanks all student participants, moot court coaches, dedicated alumni and community volunteers, and law student volunteers.
