Issues@Hand

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Above, William Bock and Helaina Hirsch

October 2017 – Patrick Henry College, located in Purcellville, Virginia, took first place again in the 2017 American Moot Court Association’s Championship Tournament held in Gulfport, Florida. PHC swept the competition, producing three of the top four teams.

Juniors Meridian Paulton and Thomas Siu defeated an Air Force Academy team. Their victory gave PHC its 10th national title in the past 13 years of competition.

“The field keeps getting stronger, but Patrick Henry rose to meet the challenge,” said PHC founder, Dr. Michael Farris, who coaches the team along with Dr. Frank Guliuzza.

Paulton and Siu also garnered fourth place in the 2017 Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Championship in July in Switzerland.

Last year, PHC returned from Switzerland with the 2016 international win. Competing against 24 other teams from notable universities around the world, PHC juniors William Bock and Helaina Hirsch, both former homeschoolers, were the first non-law school team to ever capture the international title.

Moot Court differs from a mock trial, which mimics a case being heard in court. Moot Court involves an oral argument appealing a case that has already been heard by a district court.

phc.edu, 8/8/17