Boston College Law School’s Jessup Moot Court team hosted a public practice round on March 25 as they prepared for the national competition. The team, composed of Victoria Magali, Qui “Kelly” Mai, Keyon Rostamnezhad, and Eliot Usherenko, has already found much success this competition season and advanced beyond regionals to the international level of competition.
Coached by alumnae Jeanne Semivan ’09 and Meaghan Luster ’20, and Professor David Wirth, the team presented arguments to a panel of esteemed judges on complex issues of international law.
This year’s problem presented four distinct issues embedded in a hypothetical case problem. Members of the team analyzed and presented arguments surrounding (1) the rights and obligations of various international community members when two different people claim to be the president of a state, (2) invocation of immunity for governmental officials who are accused of human rights violations, (3) legal consequences of receding coastlines caused by climate change for the maritime zones of coastal states, and (4) the interpretation of a compromissory clause in a international treaty. Throughout the argument, all team participants exemplified poise and knowledge that impressed the judges.
They included practitioners Kathleen Hamann from Pierce Atwood and Yuri Parkhomenko from Foley Hoag, BC Law faculty members E. Joan Blum and Adnan Zulfiqar, and BC Law Dean Odette Lienau. The bench brought a multitude of experience and perspectives on international law to the exhibition round, and each judge pushed the team to work through complex questions surrounding their arguments.
Jessup’s international rounds will take place in Washington, DC, this spring at the International Court of Justice.
In another March advocacy event, 3Ls Jess Parillo and Savannah Wormley finished as quarterfinalists in the 75th Seigenthaler-Sutherland Cup National First Amendment Moot Court Competition. They were among thirty-two teams from across the US who competed at Catholic University Law in Washington, DC.
Photography by Andres Leiva ’26