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30th Moot Court Competition

Now in its 30th year, the Wabash College Moot Court competition brings Wabash men together through the support of the Wabash Club of Indianapolis and the Rhetoric Department. The competiton gives students the chance to be a lawyer for a day, arguing a case in front of an appellate court panel of judges who advance participants based on the strength of their arguments within the law. Mentorship and judging in the preliminary rounds is provided by a host of Wabash alumni and friends with a wealth of experience within the law.

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The 2023 Moot Court participants inlcuded advocates (back row, from left) Seth Kirkpatrick '24, Gabriel Pirtle '25, Liam Grennon '24, and Andrew Dever '25; and judges (front row, from left) Hon. Darren Chadd '92, Hon. Dana Kenworthy, Hon. Damon Leichty '94, and Matt Carlson, associate professor of philosophy.

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Jeff Drury, associate professor of rhetoric, introduces the advocates to the Salter Hall audience.

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Scott Himsel, associate professor of political science and Wabash's pre-law advisor, introduces the judges.

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The case being argued involves the First Amendment and social media platforms and the constitutioinality of state laws that regulate how social media platforms handle users' posts. Kirkpatrick (left) and Pirtle were counsel for the Petitioners.

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Kirkpatrick was first to argue. He is a senior rhetoric and political science major from South Bend, Indiana.

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Kirkpatrick is also Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Wabash Student Senate.

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Dr. Carlson asled questions early.

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Grennon (left) and Dever were counsel for the Respondents.

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Judges Chadd (right) and Kenworthy listen to a point while Carlson checks his notes.

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Pirtle listens as Kirkpatrick takes his turn at the podium.

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Grennon and Dever were active listeners.

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Kirkpatrick is a Senior Fellow with the Wabash Democracy and Public Discourse initiative.

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Judge Leichty, a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, asks a question.

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Kirkpatrick surveys the stage as Pirtle approcahes the podium.

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Pirtle is a PPE major from Sullivan, Indiana.

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The respondents react to a point from Pirtle.

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Pirtle is a member of the Pre-Law Society with plans of law school following graduation.

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Pirtle his fellow Moot Court finalists were arguing a case that will appear in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in the Spring.

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Plenty in the petitioners' case was reflected in the state's decision to treat social media platforms as "common carriers."

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This panel of judges can be intimidating to face.

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Each of these three judges graduated from Indiana high schools. Chadd (left) was elected judge of the Montgomery County Circuit Court in 2022, while Kenworthy has ben a judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals since 2022.

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Pirtle argued for a law that allowed for content moderation provisions.

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Students in attendance were interested in the arguments presented.

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Dever was first up for the respondents, representing social media companies.

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Both Kirkpatrick and Pirtle took notes intently.

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Dever is a history and Spanish major from Dallas, Texas.

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Dever is a member of the soccer team, The Bachelor, and the Wabash Democracy and Public Discourse initiative.

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The judges praised Dever's courtroom demeanor.

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Following the competition, Dever was named the Floyd Artful Advocacy Prize, which honors the memory of Hamilton County lawyer Douglas B. Floyd. The winner is not only a successful advocate, but aslo kind, tactful, and principled.

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Grennon listens to a question from the judges before approaching the podium.

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Grennon is an English major from Concord, New Hampshire.

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He is the Student Body Treasurer, an enrollment ambassador, a writing center consultant, a member of the tennis team, and a tutor to the First Plus scholars.

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The respondents claimed that current legislation was violating free speech rights.

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Judge Leichty raises another question.

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Pirtle confers with Kirkpatrick on one of Grennon's points.

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Grennon faced more than a few questions from the judging panel.

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There were plenty of interested audience members in Salter Hall.

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Kirkpatrick handled the rebuttal for the Peitioners.

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Not every mement of Moot Court is an intense one.

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There were plenty of debates in the audience as the judges made their final decisions.

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Pirtle applauds (right) as Kirkpatrick is announced as the winner.

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Kirkpatrick (left) accepts his Top Advocate award from Dr. Carlson.

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Dever (center) receives tthe Floyd Artful Advocacy Prize from Drs. Drury (left) and Himsel.

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A group photo featuring the evening's judges, finalists, and all participatnts in the 2023 Moot Court in attendance.

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Top Advocate Kirkpatrick (center) with the judges.

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