Dolan, Cobb Win UB Moot Court Competition

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- UB law students Kevin Dolan of Franklinville and Charles Cobb of Perrysburg won the Charles S. Desmond Moot Court Competition held at UB last month, earning them a spot on the Buffalo Moot Court Board.

The Desmond competition offers second- and third-year law students at UB the opportunity to argue a real case through an appeals process. Competitors -- in teams of two -- decide whether to represent the petitioners or respondents and, prior to the oral argument rounds, write a brief from research compiled by current moot court board members containing the necessary case law and statutory laws.

The competition features three preliminary rounds in which teams present their cases in front of a panel of local attorneys and judges. The competition is scored by weighing the written brief 40 percent and oral arguments 60 percent. The winners are selected from the scores compiled from the briefs and three preliminary rounds.

This year's case was based on a rape that occurred at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The case involves the Violence Against Women Act and whether it violates both the commerce clause and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Ironically, the Supreme Court granted certiori to hear the real case this term.

The other team that competed in the finals against Dolan and Cobb was Ian Lester of New York City and Todd Smith of Horseheads.

Also recognized at the competition for "Best Briefs" were teams composed of Dolan and Cobb, Joshua Roberts of Williamsville and Bill Taylor of Geneseo, Brent Behanna of Springville and David Johnstone of Rochester, Alan St. Clair of Portville and Terry Sugrue of Liverpool, and Amy Hemenway of Newark and Rachel Kranitz of East Amherst.

Recognized as "Best Oralists" were Roseanne McMorrow of Liverpool, Lester, Taylor, Dolan and Mary Snyder of Winfield.