Two teams entered the Newman Alumni Center on Oct. 22 knowing only one would win the John T. Gaubatz Moot Court Competition. By the night's end, the team of second-year students Fernando Yzquierdo and Tori Vasquez were crowned the winners.
2L and 3L students pair up for the annual event to compete for victory and join the Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board. Competing teams must file appellate briefs and debate in oral rounds. Over 120 judges evaluated competitors until the two final teams remained.
The best moot board in Florida
To be the best, you must recruit the best. The Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board puts applicants through rigorous legal challenges to induct the strongest competitors. Unsurprisingly, in the 2023 academic year, the board was the third-best Moot Court program in the nation and the best in Florida.
Last year, Miami Law's moot court board remained in the country's top ten best Moot Court programs and the best in Florida. This academic year, the board is looking to continue improving and be ranked among the best in the country.
The champions
Respondents Carlos Huembes and Marsa Nichols battled petitioners Yzquierdo and Vasquez with the Honorable Beth Bloom, Honorable Jacqueline Becerra, and the Honorable David S. Leibowitz of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida as judges in the final round.
The fictitious case centered around the Family and Medical Leave Act. Students debated how the act defines employers and the right to discovery. Judges pressed the students on how SCOTUS landmark decisions can be applied to the case and the intricacy of the act.
Yzquierdo received his bachelor's degree in criminology and creative writing from Florida State University. He previously interned at Barakat + Bossa. Vasquez graduated from San Diego University with a bachelor's degree in political science. She is also a member of the Yvette Ostolaza Mock Trial Team and serves as secretary in the Miami Law Women student organization.
Judges left impressed
After the winners were announced, the judges gave feedback to the competitors. Judge Bloom applauded the students for their case mastery and found their intellect "refreshing."
Yale Law School graduate Judge Becerra is eager to see the four last competitors join the ranks of Miami Law's most successful alumni.
"The best part of being a judge is having great lawyers around you," Becerra said. "You four can appear in front of me tomorrow."
Judge Leibowitz left feeling more than hopeful about the future of Miami Law's future practitioners.
"I just can't wait to see you guys in our courthouse," Leibowitz said.
Read more about Miami Law's moot court organizations
