“Moot court gives us an opportunity to actually apply what we learn in class to real-world situations and real-world cases.”
– Brent Harris, Evening Program 2L
On Saturday, September 13, CUNY Law’s Moot Court hosted its 30th Annual Competition, a cornerstone of our training in advocacy and community lawyering. This year’s competition brought together dozens of students and an extraordinary bench of alumni, faculty, and judges to support and inspire the next generation of lawyers.
The competition’s case—United States Postal Service v. Ronald Hump—was as engaging as it was rigorous. Written by Moot Court members Chima Monday and Ronyhel Peguero, the problem challenged students to argue complex constitutional questions with real-world relevance, all while keeping the spirited edge that makes CUNY’s summer competition so memorable.
Under the leadership of Summer Competition Chair Nikki Richards ’26, Moot Court President Jayden Lopez ’26, and Vice President Arleth Montoya ’26, the program offered students a full day of oral advocacy practice, feedback, and community connection. Alumni and faculty played a central role—serving as presiding justices, brief judges, and final round panelists. The morning rounds featured alumni including Erol Akpinar ’19, Diana Aragundi ’15, Cristina Carvajal ’21, Andrea Cavazos ’24, John Paul Guyette ’15, and many more, while the Final Round Bench was presided over by Hon. Gerald Lebovits, Hon. Jenny Rivera, and Prof. Nina Chernoff.
Beyond the oral arguments, the competition was also a celebration of continuity and mentorship. The event’s program names 28 student competitors and thanks more than 20 faculty members who prepared students and participated in the day’s programming. Their guidance underscores how deeply rooted Moot Court is in CUNY Law’s culture of experiential learning.
Workshops leading up to the competition equipped participants with critical skills from research and brief writing to oral advocacy taught by both faculty and students. The day itself unfolded in three rounds: two preliminary arguments in the morning, and a high-energy final round in the afternoon auditorium session, where finalists argued before the distinguished bench and the community gathered to celebrate their achievements.
The Summer Moot Court Competition continues to thrive thanks to the tireless efforts of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and administrative partners across the Law School.