Over the past month, high school student attorneys have been raising serious legal questions in court. Did a fictional school district violate a student’s Second Amendment rights by suspending him for allegedly violating the district’s Gun-Free School Policy, and also violate his First Amendment rights for his social media behavior related to posts concerning his suspension?
After extensive deliberation, a panel of judges hearing a fictional case (Spencer Hicks v. Placerado Unified School District) ruled last night that the attorneys for Bella Vista High School made the most convincing arguments, winning the 43rd annual Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Moot Court Competition. Mira Loma High School (Team 4) placed second.
Third District Court of Appeal Presiding Justice Vance W. Raye, along with Justices Ronald B. Robie and Andrea L. Hoch, presided over the final round, which was held at the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building (3rd District Court of Appeal) in downtown Sacramento.
2022 Sacramento County Moot Court Competition Results
- 1st Place: Bella Vista
- 2nd Place: Mira Loma (Team 4)
- 3rd Place: Mira Loma (Team 1)
- 4th Place: Mira Loma (Team 2)
About Moot Court
The Moot Court Competition is an appellate-level proceeding in which high school students prepare and argue a case before a three-judge panel. Judges evaluate participants on the quality and persuasiveness of their legal reasoning and presentation, and their unscripted responses to spontaneous questions from the bench. The competition provides students the opportunity to learn about constitutional law and develop crucial public speaking and debate skills. A typical Moot Court team consists of three to six students.
- Sacramento County Moot Court Champions—historical list of winning teams
Moot Court is sponsored by the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) in an effort to educate young people about the importance of civic participation in a democratic society.