The International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Court team recently had its best performance ever, reaching the finals at the National Competition held at Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and taking third place in a split decision.
The team, made up of Rose Lekan (3L, Defense Counsel), Kaylara Benfield (2L, Prosecution), Teresa Lebowitz (2L, Victim Counsel), and research and writing team members Oliver Bates (1L) and Maria Blough (1L), qualified for the international rounds to be held in June at the Hague in the Netherlands.
Kaylara Benfield was awarded Best Prosecution Oralist and Rose Lekan was awarded Second Best Defense Oralist at the competition. The team also received Best Defense Brief award, Second Best Prosecution Brief and Best Victim Brief.
The team is coached by professor Michael Benza, and adjunct professors Denakpon Tchobo and Caroline Ford.
Established 20 years ago, the International Bar Association’s International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious moot court competitions. The competitors argue a case from the perspective of the ICC Prosecutor, Defense Counsel and Victims’ Counsel. This year’s problem focused on a case of “gender apartheid” and witness tampering. The World Championships Rounds take place in June in The Hague, Netherlands, judged by real ICC and other international criminal tribunal judges, prosecutors, defense counsel and renowned international criminal law experts.