I felt that this deserved it’s own thread 
The Howard University Law School, Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Moot Court Team triumphed April 2 at the American Bar Association Mock Trial Competition when it was the first team representing an HBCU in the 15-year history of the contest to take first place.
Eighteen law schools from around the nation,
including the two-time reigning champion Harvard University, competed in this invitation only event. Chris Stewart, a third year law student and Huver I. Brown team member, believes his team's win was well deserved.
"It solidified the fact that although others think we are a third tier law school we are the best trial advocates," Stewart said. "No mathematical equation can calculate our excellence in trial advocacy." Tiers with first being the best and so forth rank Law schools. Stewart was actually named best advocate over all competitors in the competition. While the Huver I. Brown team is composed of 20 law students who are in their second and third year, the tournament hosted only teams of four. In addition to Stewart: Adonna Bannister, Nisha Brooks and Derrick Simmons also represented the Howard Law School at the event.
These members of the team at the mock trial competition were chosen through a series of competitions. First, open slots for the Howard's moot court team are filled through an intra-school competition at the end of the spring semester. Once the team is chosen, in the fall semester the members compete among themselves to select who will represent the university at tournaments.
Errick D. Simmons, captain of the moot court team, said that the team worked hard to attain the recognition they are now receiving.
"Our success is due to our faith in each other as teammates, our diligent preparation and our belief that we will do whatever is necessary to represent our school and our community to the best of our abilities," Simmons said.
What really stood out to Simmons about the team's win was that it was in the midst of so many other noteworthy competitors.
When the team advanced, Simmons said the announcer had to spell out the Howard so that the audience would not mistakenly think that Harvard University was being referred to.
Competing against such excellent teams is what made winning all the more special to Nisha Brooks, third year law student.
"The team we won against was good and we were just a little better," Brooks said. "It wasn't a slam dunk. It wasn't easy, we put in a lot of work, time, and a lot of late nights."
Team member, Derrick C. Simmons, expressed great excitement about his participation in the event.
"We are ecstatic about being able to contribute to the legacy of Howard law," Derrick said. He is appreciative of the backing the university community has provided. "I love Patrick Swygert for his vision, Dean [Kurt] Schmoke for his leadership of the law school, and faculty, staff, and students for their continued support."
The Huver I. Brown team has competed in four competitions this year and placed well in all of them. Another group of Huver I. Brown team members placed first in the eastern regional competition for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA). Starting today and continuing to Sunday, April 10, the team will be competing in the association's national competition in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Reginald McGahee, Dean of Admissions at the law school and Huver I. Brown team member, is proud of the direction that the team is taking.
"As a former member to know that excellencies still present and is being surpasses makes me feel great," McGahee said. "The world knows what we have already known, one cannot tell by applications the passion, drive, determination and professionalism an individual has--we produce students with these attributes."
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