Hartwick College Hosts 2025 Moot Court Finals on Nov. 20

Hartwick will host the final round of its 2025 Moot Court Competition on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 6 p.m. in Shineman Chapel. The event is open to the public and will begin with a mingle and reception at 6 p.m., followed by the final oral arguments at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

Now in its second year, the Hartwick Moot Court competition gives students the chance to step into the role of appellate advocates and develop skills in legal reasoning, argumentation and public speaking. The competition is organized and led by Hartwick alum Thomas Holmgren ’13, a litigator with the Wilson Elser firm in New York City. Holmgren has been instrumental in creating and sustaining this distinctive opportunity, donating dozens of hours of his time to mentor students, recruit alumni and shape a program that is exceptionally rare at the undergraduate level.

Holmgren has also provided financial support for the program, donating $7,000 to fund the competition’s student awards: $3,000 for the winning team ($1,500 per student) and $500 for each runner-up. In addition, several Hartwick alumni attorneys have made gifts to help ensure the competition’s long-term success.

This year’s case centers on a Fourth Amendment question: whether a public high school’s use of drug-sniffing dogs to search students violates constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. Student teams have spent weeks preparing to argue both sides of the case before panels of Hartwick alumni attorneys who have volunteered as judges. Most alumni participated in earlier rounds via Zoom and several will return to campus for the final round as judges and audience members. Their presence offers students a valuable professional development opportunity to connect directly with Hartwick graduates working in the legal field.

The Moot Court finals promise to be both educational and entertaining. Members of the Hartwick and Oneonta communities are invited to attend to witness students engage with complex constitutional issues and demonstrate their ability to think critically, reason under pressure and communicate persuasively. The evening also provides a chance to meet Hartwick alumni lawyers and experience firsthand how the College’s commitment to experiential learning prepares students for law school, public service and civic leadership.

Last year’s inaugural competition drew more than 60 student participants and firmly established Moot Court as a signature Hartwick tradition that blends academic rigor, alumni mentorship and community engagement.

Matt Chick, pre-law advisor, co-director of the Hartwick Institute for Public Service, and a member of the Department of Political Science, serves as the faculty lead for the competition. The event is co-sponsored by the Hartwick Institute for Public Service and the Department of Political Science and is open to students of all majors. Those interested in supporting the program can find a giving link on the Hartwick Institute for Public Service website.