Moot court competitors Jason Hoang, a political science major from Saginaw, and Payton Stemmerich, a Spanish major from Clinton Township, at the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition in Geneva, Switzerland.
Demonstrating remarkable skill in written and oral arguments before a mock supreme court, Saginaw Valley State University’s moot court program has catapulted to a fourth-place overall ranking among undergraduate moot court teams in the United States.
The American Moot Court Association (AMCA) recently released its 2024-2025 rankings of top programs. SVSU’s fourth-place overall position was based on a fifth-place ranking in oral advocacy and a fourth-place ranking in appellate brief writing. SVSU was ranked ninth following the 2023-2024 season.
“These rankings reflect the incredible talent that our students continue to display, year over year,” said Kevin G. Lorentz II, SVSU assistant professor of political science and moot court director. “This represents the highest-ever overall program ranking for the SVSU moot court team, which reflects our continuing competitive edge in both the oral advocacy and brief writing competitions.”
With a standout work ethic, SVSU students outperformed their peers at Georgetown University, the University of Chicago, University of California, Berkely and Princeton University, among others.
During the 2024-2025 competition season, 22 SVSU students committed countless hours researching and writing legal briefs and preparing and practicing oral arguments.
Several moot court participants competed in regional tournaments, with six students qualifying for the preliminary rounds of the AMCA’s national tournament, which were held in January. Two of those competitors qualified for the final round of the national tournament, held in February, finishing fifth in the nation. Additionally, all moot court participants competed in the appellate brief writing competition, with six students earning national awards. Results from these AMCA tournaments were factored into the final rankings.
SVSU’s moot court program was established in 2010 under the leadership of Julie Keil, professor of political science. Lorentz has directed the program since 2024 in partnership with Amy Hendrickson, associate professor of law. In the 2024-2025 season, they were assisted by Abi Walk, a 2024 SVSU graduate and former moot court competitor.
The AMCA, which is the largest intercollegiate moot court organization in the United States, administers undergraduate competitions in oral and written legal advocacy. In oral advocacy competitions, students working in two-person teams make simulated appellate arguments in front of a panel of attorneys and judges representing the U.S. Supreme Court.
The American Moot Court Association (AMCA) recently released its 2024-2025 rankings of top programs. SVSU’s fourth-place overall position was based on a fifth-place ranking in oral advocacy and a fourth-place ranking in appellate brief writing. SVSU was ranked ninth following the 2023-2024 season.
“These rankings reflect the incredible talent that our students continue to display, year over year,” said Kevin G. Lorentz II, SVSU assistant professor of political science and moot court director. “This represents the highest-ever overall program ranking for the SVSU moot court team, which reflects our continuing competitive edge in both the oral advocacy and brief writing competitions.”
With a standout work ethic, SVSU students outperformed their peers at Georgetown University, the University of Chicago, University of California, Berkely and Princeton University, among others.
During the 2024-2025 competition season, 22 SVSU students committed countless hours researching and writing legal briefs and preparing and practicing oral arguments.
Several moot court participants competed in regional tournaments, with six students qualifying for the preliminary rounds of the AMCA’s national tournament, which were held in January. Two of those competitors qualified for the final round of the national tournament, held in February, finishing fifth in the nation. Additionally, all moot court participants competed in the appellate brief writing competition, with six students earning national awards. Results from these AMCA tournaments were factored into the final rankings.
SVSU’s moot court program was established in 2010 under the leadership of Julie Keil, professor of political science. Lorentz has directed the program since 2024 in partnership with Amy Hendrickson, associate professor of law. In the 2024-2025 season, they were assisted by Abi Walk, a 2024 SVSU graduate and former moot court competitor.
The AMCA, which is the largest intercollegiate moot court organization in the United States, administers undergraduate competitions in oral and written legal advocacy. In oral advocacy competitions, students working in two-person teams make simulated appellate arguments in front of a panel of attorneys and judges representing the U.S. Supreme Court.
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