Skip to Main Content

Photo Albums

Back to Photo Albums

31st Moot Court Finals

The 31st 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.

a group of people posing for a photo

The 2024 Wabash College Moot Court Finalists and Judges. Front row (l to r): 

Delaware County Circuit Judge Douglas Mawhorr ’88, U.S. District Judge Matthew Brookman, Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Elizabeth Tavitas, and Christiana Ochoa, Dean of the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Back Row: Jeff Drury, professor of rhetoric; Tobey Condon '26, Gabe Pirtle '25, Jake Weber '25, Top Advocate and Floyd Artful Advocate Prize winner; Elijah Wetzel '27, Scott Himsel '85, associate professor of political science and pre-law advisor; and Matthew Griffith '89, founder and managing partner of Griffith Xidias Law Group.

 

a man standing at a podium with a microphone

Professor of Rhetoric and Department Chair Jeff Drury welcomed attendees to Salter Hall and introduced the finalists.

a man in a suit and tie

Tobey Condon ’26 aruged for the Petitioners...

a man sitting at a table

...as did Elijah Wetzel ’27.

a man sitting at a table

 Gabe Pirtle ’25 argued for the Respondents...

a man in a suit sitting in front of a wood wall

...as did Jake Weber ’25.

a man standing at a podium with a microphone

Scott Himsel '85, associate professor of political science and pre-law advisor, introduced the judges.

a group of people sitting at a table with microphones

The panel of judges included (from left) Delaware County Circuit Judge Douglas Mawhorr ’88, U.S. District Judge Matthew Brookman, Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Elizabeth Tavitas,  and Christiana Ochoa, Dean of the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

a man in a suit and tie standing at a podium with a microphone

Wetzel opened the arguments.

a man standing at a podium with a microphone

It wasn't long into his argument before the questions began.

a group of people sitting at a podium

Here, Judge Brookman poses a question.

a man standing at a podium with a microphone

A religion major from Lafayette, Indiana, Wetzel made his first Moot Court finals appearance.

two men sitting at a table with signs

Weber (left) and Pirtle listen intently.

a man standing at a podium speaking into a microphone

Condon takes up the arguments for the Petitioners.

a man speaking into a microphone

Following the event, Condon praised the Wabash alumni and supporters who helped prepare all the participants during the Moot Court competition.

a man in a black robe

Judge Mawhorr responds to one of Condon's points.

a man standing at a podium speaking into a microphone

Condon is a PPE major from Watervliet, New York.

a group of men sitting in a row

Plenty of students in attendance paid rapt attention.

a person holding a pen and a clipboard

All of the finalists prepared detailed notes for their arguments. Here is a look at one page of Weber's notes.

a man standing at a podium with a microphone

Weber was first up for the Respondents.

a man in a white sweater

Preston Reynolds '25 was an active listener.

a man standing at a podium with his hands raised

Weber is a rhetoric and French major from Fishers, Indiana.

a man standing at a podium speaking into a microphone

Weber claimed both Top Advocate honors and the Floyd Artful Advocate Prize, making him the first student to claim both awards in the same Moot Court competition.

The Floyd Artful Advocacy Prize honors the memory of Douglas B. Floyd, a Hamilton County lawyer remembered by his colleagues as “an artful advocate of causes he believed in.” The winner is to be not only a successful advocate, but also kind, tactful, and principled. As lawyers might say, he succeeds without scorching the earth. The Prize rewards not only winning qualities as an advocate, but also a winning disposition—someone who can take the heat with a smile.

a man in a suit and tie

Pirtle listens to Weber's points before he takes the lectern.

a group of people sitting in a row

Judge Tavitas (center) readies a question.

a man standing at a podium with a microphone

Pirtle wraps up arguments from the Respondents.

a man standing at a podium with a microphone

Pirtle was thoughtful and measured in his delivery.

a man in a suit writing on a table

Wetzel takes notes.

a man standing at a podium with a microphone

Pirtle is a PPE major from Sullivan, Indiana, and a two-time Moot Court finalist.

a man in glasses looking up

A Moot Court finalist in 2023, Andrew Dever '25, reacts positively to a solid point made by Pirtle.

a man in a red hoodie

There was plenty of student interest in this legal competition.

a woman in a black robe

Dean Ochoa asks a question.

a man writing on a paper

Audience member Bryce Kinnaman '27 took detailed notes of his own.

a group of men in suits

Matthew Griffith '89 (left) , an Indianapolis lawyer and Moot Court mentor, debriefs with the finalists on the Salter Hall stage before decisions are announced.

a man shaking hands with another man

Weber (left) accepts the Top Advocate award from Judge Brookman.

a group of men in suits and ties

Top Advocate Weber (center) with Drury (left) and Himsel.

a group of people posing for a photo

All 2024 Moot Court participants and mentors in attendance pose with the panel of judges.

Download Album Photos

Back to Top