Members of Howard Payne University’s Moot Court team received the highest rankings at a recent tournament at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. Jake Aschmutat, a senior from Corpus Christi, and Charity Chambers, a junior from Derby, Kan., were named the Tournament Champions after defeating teams from Texas A&M University and the University of North Texas in the semifinal and final rounds of the tournament.

Another HPU team consisting of Kelley Miller, a junior from Paradise, and Chandler Raine, a senior from Mesquite, advanced to the semifinal round. Raine also received the Top Oralist award, ranking number one among the 32 competitors. Aschmutat and Chambers were also recognized as among the top 10 oralists.

The teams are coached by Mandy Locker, assistant professor of political science and criminal justice and Sandefer Chair of Political Science.

“I am extremely proud of the academic rigor and technical skill the Moot Court students have mastered in advocating two very difficult constitutional issues before a hypothetical court,” she said. “They have been consistently successful in winning awards at various law school competitions and regularly defeat teams from Division I and Division II schools across Texas. I bet there is a future Solicitor General among this outstanding group!”

Moot Court is a simulation of oral legal arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court. This year’s cases examined fourth and first amendment rights.

“Not only does the Moot Court program bring our institution great distinction, but – more importantly – it consistently places our students in positions to earn the notice of top law programs in the state,” said Dr. Matthew McNiece, assistant professor of history and chair of the Department of Geography, History and Political Science. “Professor Locker works incredibly hard at this, and by holding her students to high standards has helped them achieve great recognition in a program that bears a significant correlation to law school placement and funding.”

Pictured above:  HPU competitors included (from left) Kelley Miller, Chandler Raine, Jake Aschmutat and Charity Chambers.