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Moot Court

Morehouse men argue constitutional cases before panels of lawyers and judges — and win. Our nationally ranked team is where pre-law preparation turns into courtroom-ready advocacy.

How to Join the Team Explore Pre-Law

Program at a Glance

Argue like a lawyer before you get to law school.

The Team

Students compete in American Moot Court Association tournaments, arguing both sides of a mock U.S. Supreme Court case.

HPSC 351 — Introduction to Moot Court

Builds case analysis and oral argument skills. Counts as one of the four approved upper-level electives for the major

HPSC 354 — Skills Practicum

Competition-season practice for team members. Does not count toward the four approved electives.

Part of Pre-Law

Moot Court is a core student activity of the Morehouse pre-law program, alongside the Pre-Law Society and Phi Alpha Delta.

A Championship Tradition

Just two years after it was founded, the Morehouse team became the first HBCU to win a national moot court title — unseating a seven-time defending champion.

Today Morehouse remains the only HBCU with an undergraduate moot court team, and the program ranks among the top five in the country.

2015

National Champions

American Collegiate Moot Court Association national title — the first ever won by an HBCU, capping an undefeated season.
2023

Eastern Regional Victory

Topped teams from the University of Pennsylvania and Boston College to advance to nationals.
2025

Third in the Nation

Seniors Timothy Daxton Pettus ’25 and Caleb Cole ’25 placed third at the American Moot Court Association National Competition.
2026

[CURRENT SEASON RESULT]

[Add this season’s regional or national result.]

Skills Usually Taught in Law School

Judicial Precedent

Read and apply the case law that decides constitutional questions.

Case Briefing

Distill holdings and reasoning into arguments you can defend

Appellate Argument

Argue a case as if before the U.S. Supreme Court, under live questioning.

Composure Under Pressure

Address a full bench of judges and think on your feet.

How to Join

Open to students in any major.

Register

The first way you can join is by registering for the course. If you register, it is preferable that you register for the introductory course offered in the spring semester. However, strong candidates will also be considered for the fall semester.
Attend

The second way you can join is simply by attending the course and auditing the class. Once you are a member of the team, you are eligible to compete in the American Moot Court Association's tournaments.
Reach Out

Interested candidates can also reach out to Professor Winfield W. Murray.

You may also stop by his office on the third floor of Wheeler Hall on Mondays from 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Meet the Coach

Winfield Murray

Instructor · Director, Morehouse Moot Court Program

“Moot court better prepares students for law school and law careers than any other forensic program.”

Did You Know?

The following teams won regional tournaments:

2018: Golden Daka and Ryan Washington — Atchafalaya Classic Regional.
2022: Daxton Pettus and Trenaj Mongo — South Central Regional.
2023: Daxton Pettus and Caleb Cole — Eastern Regional.
2024: Daxton Pettus and Caleb Cole — Midwest Regional.

Morehouse College remains the only HBCU that has an undergraduate moot court team.

The Morehouse Moot Court Team has consistently ranked as one of the top five moot court teams in the country.

Morehouse Moot Court Teams typically are admitted into the most elite law schools in the country including Yale, Harvard, Howard, University of Chicago, Stanford, and George Washington University just to mention a few.

Part of Political Science

Department of Political Science · Wheeler Hall, Room 319

Political Science Major Moot Court in the News

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Moot Court

Program at a Glance

A Championship Tradition

National Champions

Eastern Regional Victory

Third in the Nation

[CURRENT SEASON RESULT]