Chicago-Kent Takes Regional Title in NYC Bar's National Moot Court Competition

Jacob Skolnik ’22 and Zelpha Williams ‘22 took home the regional championship title in the NYC Bar's National Moot Court Competition. Skolnik also earned the award of best oralist in the final round.

The competition’s fictional case involved an inmate who was diagnosed with gender dysphoria before their incarceration, and whose lawyer was hospitalized for several weeks when an appeal involving the prison's denial of gender affirmation surgery was due.

Williams argued both sides of whether the mailbox rule, which allows court filings to be considered properly filed when deposited in the prison mailbox, should apply to inmates who are technically represented but who submit documents on their own. Skolnik argued both sides of whether the prison's blanket ban on gender affirmation surgery constitutes an Eighth Amendment violation.

The NYC Bar Competition’s national title bout will take place in late January.

A full story on the regional competition will soon appear on Chicago-Kent’s website.