The Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy
Moot Court Team 2007-2008 School Year

Mission Statement
Becoming a member of the Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Team is one of the highest honors a Howard law student can earn. With membership comes a great deal of responsibility. The team is named after Huver I. Brown, an African-American attorney who in 1939 sued the District of Columbia Bar Association to gain access to the District of Columbia Bar Association Law Library. During a trial, the presiding judge asked Attorney Brown to provide legal support for an argument he made. Because at that time only white attorneys were allowed to use the law library, African-American attorneys had to argue “from the seat of their pants” without the aid of legal precedent. Attorney Brown was refused access to the library, and sued asserting that a private bar group could not deny black lawyers access to the law library because it was located in a federal courthouse. Therefore the denial of access was unconstitutional. In 1941, the lawsuit was settled, and African-Americans were allowed to use the law library, contingent upon payment of a fee.

A Tradition of Excellence and Success
The purpose of the Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Team is to continue to improve upon the past tradition of excellence in trial advocacy at Howard University School of Law. Another purpose is to assist team members in developing their trial/litigation advocacy skills and analytical ability. The Team was founded in 1995 by former Professor Sharon Styles-Anderson and is coached by Professor Brandi Harden, Esq. Since its inception, the Team has compiled an unparalleled record of success in national competitions:

ACHIEVEMENTS:

2008

• Award for Best Student Attorney, Stanford University Mock Trial Competition (April Williams)

2007

• Award for Best Opening Statement, Michigan State University Mock Trial Competition (Janine Alston)

2006

• Mid-Atlantic Regional Champions, Black Law Student Association (BLSA) Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition

2005

• National Champions, ABA National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition
• Regional Champions, Association of Trial Lawyers’ of America (ATLA) Student Trial Competition

2000

• National Finalist, Association of Trial Lawyers of American Student Competition (ATLA)
• Regional Champions, Association of Trial Lawyers’ of America Student Trial Competition (ATLA)
• Winner, Best Advocate Trophy, Allegheny Trial Lawyers Association Trial Advocacy Competition (Ryan Harding)
• Second place, National Student Trial Advocacy Competition sponsored by the American Trial Lawyers Association
• Regional Champions, National Trial Competition

1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

• Selected one of the top Sixteen Trial Advocacy Programs in the country by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA)

1999

• First Historically Black Law School to win the Tournament of Champions National Competition
• Eastern Regional Champions, National Trial Competition
• Semifinalist, National Trial Competition
• Regional Champions, Association of Trial Lawyers’ of America Student Trial Competition (ATLA)
• Winner, Best Advocate Trophy, Tournament of Champions Competition (Melvin Otey)
• Winner, Best Advocate Trophy, Allegheny Trial Lawyers Association Trial Advocacy Competition (LaShann DeArcy)

1998

• Winners, Best Advocate Trophy, Allegheny Trial Lawyers Association Trial Advocacy Competition
• Eastern Regional Champions, National Trial Competition

1997

• Eastern Regional Champions, National Trial Competition

1996

• Eastern Regional Champions, National Trial Competition

1995

• Eastern Regional Champions, National Trial Competition

Selection of New Team Members
The Trial Advocacy Team shall be comprised of not more than twenty team members at any given time; however, the Faculty Advisor reserves the right to increase or decrease the standard number of members at his/her own discretion. If the Faculty Advisor does increase the number of members, any additions to the team may not exceed 23 members. New team members shall be selected during the annual spring Trial Advocacy Team Competition. This is a rigorous interscholastic competition open to all first and second year students in good academic standing at the Law School. The Team shall be governed by the officers of the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Captain, and Co-Captain and Business Manager.

Each Team Member is expected to come to class, meetings, and scrimmages on time and prepared at all times. Students are expected to take notes during lectures, participate in class discussions and workshops, and be an overall team player. Failure to do so could result in the forfeiture of eligibility for traveling team, the Executive Board or any other Team offices, or removal from the Team at the discretion of the Faculty Advisor.

revised January 31, 2008