Boston Area Lawyers Needed for ABA Competition

The American Bar Association Law Student Division needs approximately 180 lawyers and judges to serve as oral argument judges for the 2007-08 Boston Regional National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC). This moot court competition will be held March 13 - 15 at the Edward W. Brook Courthouse (24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114).

Volunteer judges will have the opportunity to interact with the finest advocates that the nation's law schools have to offer. With 190 teams competing, the NAAC is one of the largest moot court competitions in the country. Teams from law schools in 15 states are preparing to compete in the Boston Regional.

The rounds will be held in the late afternoon on Thursday and Friday and all day on Saturday.  Judges may serve multiple rounds if they desire.

Round 1 – Thu. March 13 (4:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.)
Round 2 – Fri. March 14 (4:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.)
Round 3 – Sat. March 15 (9:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.)
Round 4 – Sat. March 15 (1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
Round 5 – Sat. March 15 (4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

Volunteers are asked to enter their information on the form located at http://www.abanet.org/lsd/competitions/judges/naac/regional/boston.html. Please indicate in the comment section your availability to serve multiple rounds.

After receipt of your form, the ABA will send an email confirming judging assignments and direction for downloading a detailed bench memorandum and instructions on judging.  Reviewing these materials is the only preparation required of competition judges.

If you have any colleagues who may be interested in participating as a volunteer judge, please forward this message to them.

This year, the case involves two issues: (1) whether an unmarried man is eligible for asylum based on an oppressive population control policy directed toward his ex-wife, and (2) whether a federal court of appeals has jurisdiction to review the Board of Immigration Appeals' use of agency streamlining procedures, or whether the agency's use of those procedures is a decision that is committed to agency discretion by law.

Volunteer judges contribute greatly to the success of this competition. The judges’ feedback during and following each competition round is invaluable to the students as they learn to be better advocates for their future clients.

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