First-year Moot Court Competition

First-year students Ashley Boomgaarden and Trevor Yakimchuck compete in the 1L Moot Court finals

Each year, the first-year Lawyering Skills class holds an internal moot court competition amongst the 1L students. 

This year, the final round of the competition featured Ashley Boomgaarden representing the appellant and Trevor Yakimchuck representing the appellee in the case argued on March 28, in the UND Law Baker Courtroom.

A distinguished panel of judges volunteered their time to hear the final argument. The judges included, Alice Senechal, Magistrate Judge from U.S District Court in North Dakota; Don Hager, District Court Judge; Stephanie Stiel, District Court Judge; and Michelle Wilkins Lawson and Amber B. Gustafson, District Court Judges from Minnesota.

During the comment period following the argument, the judges said they were impressed by both competitors. Both knew their facts well, and the final result of the case could have gone either way. Yakimchuck handled case situations well by disagreeing to certain statements and restating them, and Boomgaarden was skilled in presenting different cases, and weaving the law and facts into the argument.

It was a tight competition and the judges were split on who was the winner. The majority decision of the judges named Boomgaarden the 1L champion. The best oralist award and runner-up award went to Yakimchuck.  The two other semifinalists, Tatiana Hamilton and Scott Fahrendorf, were also recognized for their success. 

To wrap up the session, Judge Wilkins Lawson offered some advice to the room of first-year students. “Enjoy the next two plus years because they are going to fly by.  You are at a great law school, and you have so many advantages here because you can participate in so many things. You should take advantage of every opportunity that you get at this law school, and it will serve you well in the long run.”

By: Andrew Truckenmiller