Michelle Keogh was named champion of the Hale Moot Court Honors Program competition held March 2 at USC’s Norris Cinema Theatre.
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| Above: Lauren Grubb and Michelle Keogh; Below: Alicia Clough and Sirena Castillo |
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Second-year students Keogh, Sirena Castillo, Alicia Clough and Lauren Grubb presented oral arguments during the final round of the 58th annual student-run competition.
Two constitutional issues were debated: whether Congress exceeded its authority by making it a felony for a U.S. citizen who travels in “foreign commerce” to engage in an illegal commercial sex act with a minor; and whether a defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to confrontation was violated when a person’s statement to police was deemed non-testimonial.
As the winner of the oral competition, Keogh will receive a BAR/BRI award that will cover half the cost of a bar review course. Clough was named runner-up. All four finalists will also receive the Judge E. Avery Crary Award, named after a 1929 graduate of USC Law.
Judging the arguments were U.S. Court of Appeals Judge R. Guy Cole, Jr., Supreme Court of California Associate Justice Kathryn M. Werdegar and Supreme Court of Arizona Chief Justice Ruth V. McGregor.
Cole praised all the finalists’ performances.
“The four of you performed excellently,” he said, following deliberations. “You handled your assignments masterfully and we would like to commend you for your expert work.”
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| USC Law Dean Edward J. McCaffery with Judges Werdegar, McGregor and Cole |
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