Oyez, oyez, oyez.
Chief Justice and may it please the Court. My name is Owen Hannon and I rise on behalf of the petitioner, Yale Undergraduate Moot Court (YUMC), in the case at bar. I will be addressing the issue of amusement. This case is about a tight-knit family of constitutional debaters and whether you should join. We submit that you should, for three reasons: 1) YUMC provides a distinctive community that blends argumentative rigor with social frivolity, 2) YUMC offers an unrivaled opportunity to access experts and judges in appellate law, and 3) YUMC’s members are the coolest people on Yale’s campus.
Ok, you get the idea. I can drop the legal formality and formulaic roadmap. What I will never drop, however, is YUMC – one of the bedrocks of my social and academic life in college. But what exactly is moot court you might be wondering? (And, I warn you, do not conflate us with mock trial; that is a touchy subject and we know we’re better.) We are a team of over 40 undergrads who compete in nationwide intercollegiate competitions through the American Moot Court Association (AMCA). Every year, AMCA drafts an “instant case” that presents the fact pattern of a legal challenge originating from the 51st state, the State of Olympus. We are told that the instant case has worked its way up the appellate ladder – through trial courts and rounds of fact finding – and ended up in the lap of the United States Supreme Court, which is tasked with reviewing the constitutional questions that arose during the appellate process. We pretend to be attorneys – preparing to argue on behalf of either the “petitioner” or “respondent” about these constitutional issues – in front of a panel of “judges”: real law professors and district court judges. We use real case law and real precedents as the basis of our arguments, spend months thinking about how we can apply actual court decisions to our mythical facts at hand, and practicing our public speaking skills so we can woo the judges to our side. It sounds stressful, and it is. But it is so, so worth it.
Let me prove it. For this, I’ll turn back to my roadmap.
On the first point, YUMC isn’t just about legal research and constitutional study. Of course, we are all interested in constitutional law to some degree. The fact that I’ve found a community of fellow constitutional nerds is mind-blowing; those high school years were a desert when it came to searching for someone I could debate substantive due process with over brunch. But, because we spend so much time together prepping for competition, YUMC is more than just an academic team; it’s a family. We’ve cultivated a tight-knit community whose real foundation is shared camaraderie and love. We care deeply about one another, and our bonds extend well beyond the courtroom. A YUMC member is the first person I would turn to when in a personal crisis, when looking to grab a meal, or when celebrating holidays and birthdays and accomplishments – or really anything that gives us an excuse to spend yet more time together.
On the second point, YUMC offers opportunities for personal development that other extracurriculars struggle to approximate. We engage in spirited debate that requires each member to think analytically and creatively about the law. We collaborate with each other and challenge one another constructively. We host panel discussions with law school students, build a network of volunteer judges and legal professionals who offer critical wisdom on what appellate law actually looks like as a career, and provide members discounted LSAT prep and law school admissions materials.
But, on the third and most important point, YUMC is home to the coolest people on Yale’s campus. Sure, we sharpen our public speaking skills, delve into the nuances of constitutional law, and navigate the complexities of appellate advocacy with precision and passion. But it’s the people—dynamic, brilliant, and endlessly supportive—who make YUMC extraordinary. Whether it’s dissecting case law late into the night, celebrating after a competition, or simply hanging out in the common room, YUMC members bring energy, humor, and camaraderie to everything we do. These are the friends who will push you to be your best, cheer you on every step of the way, and make even the most stressful moments unforgettable. It’s no exaggeration to say that the coolest people I’ve ever met are right here, in this family of constitutional debaters.
So, consider the Court pleased. And come join us.
