Baylor Law Moot Court Teams Named ‘Most Outstanding Law School’ at the 2024 John R. Brown National Admiralty Law Moot Court Competition
Two Baylor Law Moot Court teams excelled at the 31st Annual Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Law Competition hosted in Seattle from April 11-13, 2024. Competing against 32 teams nationwide, Baylor Law’s representatives clinched the prestigious Oar Trophy for Most Outstanding Law School for the second time in four years. Baylor Law is the only school to have two teams progress to the playoff rounds, the top 8 teams, in 3 of the last 4 years.
Under the coaching of professors Lee Ann James (JD ’02) and Kayla Landeros (JD ’08), the teams of Olivia Schoffstall, Stephen Hirschbuehler, Nick Walter, Taylor Ash, Luke Davis, and Stone Martin showcased remarkable skill and determination throughout the competition. The Baylor teams were presented with a ceremonial oar—a replica of the colonial New York Vice-Admiralty Court’s oar from the early 1700s. The English crown and anchor are engraved in silver on the award.
Olivia Schoffstall’s standout performance earned her the title of Best Oral Advocate, while she and Stephen Hirschbuehler advanced to the semi-finals, securing third place as the oral advocate team. Nick Walter’s petitioner’s brief also garnered recognition, placing him third in the competition.
Taylor Ash, Luke Davis, and Stone Martin further demonstrated Baylor’s strength in the competition, reaching the quarterfinal round.
Coach Kayla Landeros noted, “We are extremely proud of this group of students. This a tough competition and for the past two years, this group has proven their ability to argue the finer points of admiralty law in front of knowledgeable judges and fierce competitors.”
The competition is named for the Honorable John R. Brown, who served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit as one of the nation’s premier admiralty judges from 1955 until his death in 1993. Shortly after his death and in his honor, The University of Texas School of Law established the Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition, the country’s premier admiralty law moot court competition.
