Bentley teams were seeded first and fifth out of 46 teams competing in the Eastern Regional Tournament of the American Collegiate Moot Court Association, a competition where student teams simulate arguments before the Supreme Court. Bentley’s teams will now advance to the national tournament in January at Regent University Law School in Virginia.

(Bentley's Moot Court team members with their coach, Senior Lecturer Franklyn Salimbene)

Bentley fielded three teams in the tournament. The teams were made up of the following students:

Team 1: Will Markow ’13 and Alexis Lawlor ‘13

Team 2: Tim Donovan ’13 and Moussa Hassoun ‘14

Team 3: Gianni Crameri ’13 and Will Manning ‘14

Bentley’s Team 3 captured the first seed. This was the first time a Bentley team placed first in the regional tournament. Team 2 placed as the fifth seed.

Will Markow was recognized for being among the top 15 orators in the competition, for which he also was recognized in 2010. His teammate, Alexis Lawlor, received a top orator in last year’s competition.

Moot Court simulates arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court where both team members act as advocates, and are given 20 minutes to argue their case, and each advocate must speak for a minimum of seven minutes. Teams are judged by actual attorneys and judges on their forensics, knowledge of the law, demeanor, and ability to answer questions from the bench.

This year’s tournaments required the teams to argue the constitutional issues involved in a university affirmative action program aimed at increasing a falling male enrollment, addressing the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause, and the same university's policy not to officially recognize student groups that discriminate in their membership on the basis of gender, based on the 1st Amendment’s right of free association.