17 June 2005

Some of Australia’s most senior judges will congratulate The University of Queensland’s champion Jessup Moot Team at an official function next week.

The function will be held in the foyer of UQ’s James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre, St Lucia campus, on Monday June 20 at noon.

The Honourable Justice Michael Kirby, AC CMG, of the High Court of Australia, will lead the proceedings to congratulate the students and encourage them in their future legal careers.

The UQ Law School Jessup Moot Team successfully took out the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Washington DC in April.

It was the first time in the competition’s 46-year history that a team from Queensland has won the championship.

The world title continued a tradition of strong performances in the Jessup competition by past UQ teams.

Students from 85 countries took part in the competition, which placed students in a hypothetical legal case as representatives in a dispute before an International Court of Justice.

Law School Head and Sir Gerard Brennan Professor of Law Charles Rickett said the win demonstrated the high standard of UQ’s Law School students and the commitment of its staff.

The team was coached by UQ senior lecturer Dr Anthony Cassimatis.

“The Jessup Moot team’s performance was simply outstanding and was the result of rigorous team preparation in terms of both legal research and advocacy training,” Dr Cassimatis said.

The team consists of Ruth Catts, Stephen Colditz, Julian Ensbey, Cameron Forsaith and Nick Luke.

Media: Elizabeth Kerr at UQ Communications (07 3365 2339, 0422 940 572, e.kerr@uq.edu.au).