Moot Court

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MOOT COURT BYLAWS

ARTICLE I. - Mission Statement of the Moot Court

The Moot Court Board (The Board) exists to develop each individual member's potential in written and oral advocacy, to represent Georgia State University College of Law (College of Law) successfully in moot court competitions, and to enhance each individual member's educational experience in law school.

ARTICLE II. - Board Selection

1. Eligibility of Prospective Board Members

a. Prospective Board Members shall have successfully completed Legal Bibliography and RWA. Successful completion shall be deemed to be a grade of PASS in Legal Bibliography and EITHER an overall average of 2.7 (B-) or higher in RWA OR a 3.0 (B) or higher in the second semester of RWA. In the case of transfer students, acceptance of coursework equivalent to Legal Bibliography and RWA by the College of Law for transfer credit shall be conclusive evidence of successful completion and shall satisfy this requirement.

b. Potential Board Members shall be required to have achieved an overall grade point average of 2.7 (B-) or higher by the completion of their first year of law school.

2. Moot Court Candidates

Board Members shall be chosen by one of two methods:

a. Invitation to join Moot Court pursuant to Section 3 of this article or

b. Selection based on performance in the Summer Appellate Advocacy Tournament pursuant to Section 4 of this article.

Acceptance of an invitation to participate on the Moot Court Board requires an affirmative commitment by the student as defined in Article III, Section 5(a) of these bylaws. In addition, the student must fulfill any obligations enumerated in these bylaws.

3. Moot Court Invitees

At the completion of the spring semester of RWA, eight (8) students shall be invited to join Moot Court as Invitees.

a. “Grade-On” Invitees: The four (4) students with the highest grades in RWA, determined through a combination of brief and oral argument scores and excluding those students invited to join pursuant to subsection b of this Section, shall be invited to join The Board. The brief score shall account for forty percent (40%) and the oral argument score for the remaining sixty percent (60%) of a student’s combined score.

i. The brief score will be assessed by the faculty head of the RWA program.

ii. The oral argument scores shall be derived from the combined scores of the Preliminary rounds of the oral argument phase of RWA.

iii. The four (4) “Grade-On” Invitees will be extended an invitation by the President of the Moot Court Board after final grades are submitted by the RWA professors.

b. “Argue-On” Invitees: Additionally, the four (4) finalists from the oral argument portion of the RWA Appellate Advocacy Tournament will be invited to join Moot Court as Invitees.

c. All invitations will be extended by the President via mail or email and all invitations must be accepted or declined within two (2) weeks of receipt of an invitation.

d. In the event that any of the invitations are declined, no further invitations will be extended.

e. Upon acceptance of an invitation, an invitee is considered a Board Member.

4. Summer Appellate Advocacy Tournament

Students who meet all eligibility requirements set forth in Section 1 of this article, who were not invited to join The Board pursuant to Section 3 of this Article, and who, in good faith, believe they can successfully execute the commitments and satisfy the requirements set forth in Article III, Section 5, may try out for The Board by competing in the Summer Appellate Advocacy Tournament (Tournament). The Tournament shall consist of both brief writing and oral argument components, to be based upon a problem selected by the Vice Presidents of Appellate Advocacy and approved by the President. The format of the competition shall comport with the following provisions:

a. The Brief Writing Component:

i. The problem will be made available to eligible students via the internet, and competitors may download the problem on a date deemed appropriate by the Vice Presidents of Appellate Advocacy;

ii. Students will have at least two (2) weeks from the start date of the Tournament to submit their completed brief, but must comply with all deadlines and time parameters set by the Vice Presidents of Appellate Advocacy;

iii. Students are not required to download the problem as soon as it is available. However, each competitor’s brief must be turned in by the Due Date, regardless of the date the competitor downloaded the problem;

iv. The Due Date shall be set by the Vice Presidents of Appellate Advocacy at a date deemed appropriate.

b. The Oral Argument Component:

i. The oral argument component of the Tournament shall consist of two rounds, one “on-brief” and one “off-brief”;

ii. The oral argument rounds shall commence no sooner than one week after the Due Date for briefs;

c. Grading: Moot Court Board Members shall grade all briefs and serve as judges for the oral argument rounds of the Tournament. Former Board Members, who graduated within two years of the start date of the Tournament, may also serve as oral argument judges. The Vice Presidents of Appellate Advocacy will provide the Board Members with guidelines for scoring both components of the Tournament. Competitors will be ranked based on their combined brief and oral argument scores. Selection of new board members shall be based upon this ranking. The Executive Board shall determine the total number of new Board Members selected from the Tournament.

d. Additional Educational Resources: The Vice Presidents of Appellate Advocacy and the Executive Committee shall make available or suggest to all competitors appropriate resources by which the competitors may further develop their appellate advocacy skills. Such resources may include, but are not limited to:

i. Video taped or live seminars on written and/or oral advocacy;

ii. Recommended texts on written and/or oral advocacy;

iii. Case Counselors: Current Moot Court Board Members who may serve as mentors for competitors during the Tournament.

e. Requirements Satisfaction: Each competitor has a duty to ensure his or her compliance with the requirements specified in Article II, Section 1 upon the posting of relevant grades. Failure to satisfy these requirements without withdrawing from the tournament is dishonest and may result in a violation of the Honor Code. The Vice Presidents of Appellate Advocacy are responsible for ensuring that every competitor signifies his or her compliance with Article II, Section 1 by physical or electronic verification to the following statement prior to receipt of competition materials:

"I have read and understand the requirements of Article II, Section 1 of the Moot Court Bylaws. I understand that it is my duty to ensure that I meet these requirements. If the grades specified in Article II, Section 1 have not been posted prior to the competition's commencement, I will ensure my satisfaction of the requirements as soon as practicable. If I do not meet these requirements, I understand that if I do not withdraw from the competition, I may be subjected to discipline under the Honor Code."

Article III. - Responsibilities of Moot Court Board Members

1. Executive Committee

Moot Court shall be governed by an Executive Committee consisting of the nine elected officers described in Section 4 of this Article. The President shall serve as chairman of the Executive Committee and each officer shall have a single vote. The President shall only vote in the event of a tie among the Executive Committee officers.

2. Elections

Board Members shall elect officers for the incoming Executive Committee by vote of a simple majority of those casting ballots, provided that at least two-thirds of the Board Members are present. The election will be held no later than the first week of March. The outgoing president shall provide notice of the opening of nominations at least one week before the election.

3. Transition

Newly elected officers shall work with their outgoing counterparts until an Executive Committee meeting scheduled at or around the first week of April. Following the Executive Committee meeting, the newly elected officers will officially begin serving their term and serve until at or around the first week in April of the following year.

During this transition period, each outgoing officer shall (1) provide the newly elected officer with their respective Guidebook updated appropriately; and (2) meet with the newly elected officer at least once to discuss the contents of the Guidebook.

4. Officers

a. President

The President shall be responsible for the overall administration of both the Summer Appellate Advocacy Tournament and Moot Court Competition Team components. The President shall also be responsible for acting as a liaison between the Board and the College of Law faculty and administration. This officer shall:

i. Act as chairman of the Executive Committee, casting a vote on that committee only in the case of a tie;

ii. Select competition teams along with the Vice President of Moot Court and the Vice President of Competitions subject to Executive Committee approval;

iii. Appoint Board members to any and all vacant officer positions subject to Executive Committee approval;

iv. Work with the Vice President of Treasury as well as the College of Law administrative staff to ensure the Board meets its fiscal responsibility;

v. Monitor Board member activities to ensure the smooth functioning of Competition Teams;

vi. Work with the Vice President of Communications to foster alumni relations;

vii. Work with the Moot Court Faculty Advisor to ensure good relations with the College of Law faculty;

viii. Provide recommendations to the Moot Court Faculty Advisor regarding the appropriate awarding of academic credit to program participants;

ix. Appear before the faculty at the beginning of each semester, along with the Vice President of Competitions, to present the schedule of competitions and seek faculty member support;

x. Take any action necessary that is in the best interest and furtherance of the stated goals of the Board;

xi. Update and maintain Guidebook.

b. Vice President of Moot Court

The Vice President of Moot Court shall be responsible for assisting all other officers in performance of their duties. This officer shall:

i. Select competition teams along with the President and the Vice President of Competitions subject to Executive Committee approval;

ii. Assist the President in performing his/her duties when the President is engaged in a competition or otherwise cannot achieve the goals of the office;

iii. Coordinate a trip to an Atlanta-based appellate court each Fall and/or Spring semester and ensure all Moot Court I or II students attend (the trip should be open to and optional for all other Board Members);

iv. Coordinate and schedule at least one (1) appellate advocacy training each semester and ensure all Moot Court I and II students attend (the trainings should be open to and optional for all other Board Members);

v. Select the five-member disciplinary panel, pursuant to Article VI with the assistance of the Executive Committee;

vi. Ensure that all Board Members are present at all Board meetings;

1. Board Members who are unable to attend scheduled meetings must present a valid excuse;

2. The validity of the excuse will be determined by this officer, subject to Executive Committee approval.

vii. For minor infractions, as enumerated in Article VI, Section 1(a)(v), assign additional responsibilities to a member such as benching additional practice rounds for teams preparing for competition in order to provide that member with another opportunity to satisfy his or her semester responsibilities;

viii. Be responsible for the administration of Moot Court elections pursuant to Section 2 of this Article;

ix. Assume the duties of the President should the President be unable to perform his/her duties for any reason;

x. Update and maintain Guidebook.

c. Vice President of Appellate Advocacy

Two (2) Board members will serve as Vice President of Appellate Advocacy.

The Vice Presidents of Appellate Advocacy are responsible for coordinating all aspects of the Summer Appellate Advocacy Tournament, to comport with the format enumerated in Article II. These officers shall:

i. Develop the research problems to be used for the Tournament;

ii. Establish deadlines for submission of appellate briefs pursuant to the limitations enumerated in Article II, Section 4;

iii. Assign current Board Members to be Case Counselors to prospective Moot Court members competing in the Tournament;

iv. Provide for additional educational resources pursuant to Article II, Section 4(d);

v. Schedule oral argument rounds for the Tournament;

vi. Assign Board members to be judges for oral arguments;

vii. Assign Moot Court Invitees to function as bailiffs for the Tournament and to read and score briefs;

viii. Assign Board Members to read and score briefs;

ix. Compile the results of the brief writing and oral argument sections of the Tournament and, based upon those scores, recommend to the Board those students that should be extended invitations upon Board approval;

x. Ensure that invited students are eligible for Moot Court pursuant to Article II, Section 1;

xi. Ensure successful completion of the Tournament, and that new members are invited to join Moot Court, before the end of July to accommodate the Career Services Office’s deadlines;

xii. Update and maintain Guidebook.

d. Vice President of Competitions

The Vice President of Competitions is responsible for any and all areas involved with competitions and competition teams. This officer shall:

i. Select competition teams along with the President and Vice President of Moot Court subject to Executive Committee approval;

ii. Enter teams in the selected competitions;

iii. Work with the Team Coaches and Assistant Coaches to coordinate travel, lodging, and other accommodations;

iv. Appoint, oversee, and ensure Team Coaches comply with procedures outlined in Article V, Section 3 and the Team Handbooks;

v. Work with the Vice President of Treasury to create a yearly competition budget for approval by the Executive Committee;

vi. Ensure all Board Members who are not competing, coaching, or serving on the executive committee during any given semester are assigned to a team to assist that team by benching practice oral argument rounds;

vii. Update and maintain Guidebook.

e. Vice President of Communications

The Vice President of Communications is responsible for alumni relations, for the maintenance of the official Georgia State College of Law Moot Court website, and the Board’s social activities. This officer shall:

i. Further the relationship between the Board and Georgia State University College of Law Moot Court Board alumni;

ii. Maintain a contact list of Board alumni;

iii. Produce (at least) two (2) alumni newsletters per year to update the alumni about, inter alia, the Board’s accomplishments, planned activities, and future competitions;

iv. Work with the President to plan at least one (1) alumni event per academic year

v. Maintain a current list of officers, Board members, Competition Teams, and competition dates on the website;

vi. Update and maintain the website throughout the year including posting upcoming Board activities, competition results, and any distinctions earned by Competition Teams or Competition Team Members;

vii. Work with the Executive Committee to expand the content on the website to meet the growing and changing needs of the Board;

viii. Update any award plaques in possession of the Board;

ix. Coordinate the Board’s various social activities;

x. Update and maintain Guidebook.

f. Vice President of RWA

The Vice President of RWA is responsible during the spring term for coordinating the Moot Court Board’s participation in the first-year RWA oral argument competition. This officer shall:

i. Set up two (2) oral argument demonstrations (one for the day students, one for the evening students) for the first-year RWA students to be performed by members of the Intrastate Competition Team (or another team if necessary);

ii. Assign Board members to be Case Counselors for the first-year students;

iii. Work with the RWA faculty to formulate an oral argument schedule;

iv. Assign Board members to be judges for oral arguments;

v. Ensure that all oral arguments have two (2) Board members present to judge;

vi. Assist the RWA faculty in tabulating oral argument scores to determine which first-year students advance to the second round of the competition;

vii. Update and maintain Guidebook

g. Vice President of Records

The Vice President of Records is responsible for collecting, organizing and maintaining competition information and also maintaining, updating and creating the Team Handbooks. This officer shall:

i. Collect all competition information including, but not limited to: competition problem, the Competition Team’s brief, other teams’ briefs (if available), the winning brief (if available), score sheets, information obtained by the Competition Team at the competition, etc.;

ii. De-brief Competition Teams regarding the competition including, but not limited to, information on: the number of teams, the winning team(s), the best oralist, the best brief, the judging, the judges, the travel and lodging (to be given to the Vice President of Competitions).

iii. Organize this material for future reference by The Board in each respective Team Handbook;

iv. Update and maintain Guidebook.

h. Vice President of Treasury

The Vice President of Treasury is responsible for any and all areas related to the finances of Moot Court. This officer shall:

i. Along with the President, act as the liaison between Moot Court and the Georgia State College of Law Administrative staff relating to any and all financial matters;

ii. Be responsible for processing, handling and recording all monetary expenditures made by Moot Court;

iii. Work with the Vice President of Competitions to create a yearly competition budget for approval by the Executive Committee;

iv. Work with the Vice President of Communications to create a yearly dues amount for approval by the Executive Committee;

v. Be responsible for the collection of yearly Board dues. Dues will be payable at the beginning of the Fall Semester for new and current Board Members;

vi. Maintain records of all Moot Court finances;

vii. Update and maintain Guidebook.

5. Moot Court Board Members

a. Commitment

Students accepting invitations to join the Board and current Board Members accept the following commitments:

i. Serve four (4) consecutive semesters.

1. An exception to the four-semester commitment may be made for undue hardship as demonstrated by an individual member pursuant to the following procedure:

a. The Member shall provide notice of his or her hardship and the nature of relief requested to the President as soon as the situation arises.

b. The President shall present the request to the Executive Committee and requests shall be granted by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

2. A Member’s failure to satisfy the semester requirement will subject the member to removal procedures pursuant to Article VII, Section 1 of these bylaws.

ii. Pay yearly dues as determined and set forth by the Executive Committee.

1. A Member’s failure to pay dues will subject the Member to removal procedures pursuant to Article VII, Section 1 of these bylaws.

iii. Participate on any Competition Team for which they are selected.

b. Academic Credit

i. Academic credit will be made available to Moot Court Board Members on a pass/fail basis.

ii. Academic credit will be awarded at the rate of one (1) credit hour for each semester successfully completed. In no event may a student earn more than four (4) credit hours for the Moot Court I-IV course sequence.

iii. The Moot Court President shall submit a list of students who successfully completed the requirements for each Moot Court course to the Moot Court Faculty Advisor at the end of each semester.

c. Requirements

i. Board Members are required to participate on at least one (1) competition team as a Competitor in either Moot Court I or II. Board Members are required to participate on a competition team as a Competitor and/ or Team Coach during Moot Court III and/ or IV. The specific requirements of each course, in addition to the requirements set forth in the preceding sentences, are as follows:

ii. Moot Court I:

1. Students invited to join Moot Court pursuant to Article II shall register to take Moot Court I during fall semester of their second year of law school;

2. All Moot Court I students shall observe an oral argument at an Appellate Court as coordinated by the Vice President;

3. All Moot Court I students shall attend brief writing and/or oral argument seminars, to be coordinated by the Vice President of Moot Court;

4. All Moot Court I students are required to attend Board meetings (Unless excused by the Vice President of Moot Court pursuant to Section 4(b)(vi) of this Article;

5. All Moot Court I students are eligible to compete in a competition or to servve as assistant coaches;

6. All Moot Court I students shall bench at least four (4) practice rounds for teams preparing for competition;

7. All invitees who joined the Board pursuant to Article II, Section 3 shall assist the Vice Presidents of Appellate Advocacy during the Summer by reading and grading briefs and acting as bailiffs for the Summer Appellate Advocacy Tournament.

iii. Moot Court II:

1. Board Members shall enroll in Moot Court II after completing Moot Court I;

2. All Moot Court II students shall attend brief writing and/ or oral argument seminars, to be coordinated by the Vice President of Moot Court;

3. Board Members enrolled in Moot Court II are eligible to compete or serve as an assistant coach for a competition;

4. All Board Members enrolled in Moot Court II shall assist the Vice President of RWA in the Spring by serving as Case Counselors and judging and scoring oral arguments for the first-year RWA oral argument competition;

5. All Moot Court II students shall bench at least four (4) practice rounds for teams preparing for competition;

6. All Board Members enrolled in Moot Court II are required to attend Board meetings (Unless excused by the Vice President of Moot Court pursuant to Section 4(b)(vi) of this Article.

iv. Moot Court III:

1. Board Members shall enroll in Moot Court III after completing Moot Court II;

2. Board Members enrolled in Moot Court III are eligible to compete or serve as an assistant coach for a competition. Additionally, Board Members enrolled in Moot Court III who have previously competed or served as an assistant coach are eligible to coach a competition team;

3. All Board Members enrolled in Moot Court III will assist the Vice Presidents of Appellate Advocacy in the Summer by serving as Case Counsels, reading and grading briefs, and judging and scoring oral arguments for the Summer Appellate Advocacy Tournament.

4. All Moot Court III students shall bench at least four (4) practice rounds for teams preparing for competition;

5. All Board Members enrolled in Moot Court III are required to attend Board meetings (Unless excused by the Vice President of Moot Court pursuant to Section 4(b)(vi) of this Article.

v. Moot Court IV:

1. Board Members shall enroll in Moot Court IV after completing Moot Court III;

2. Board Members enrolled in Moot Court IV are eligible to compete or serve as an assistant coach for a competition. Additionally, Board Members enrolled in Moot Court IV who have previously competed or served as an assistant coach are eligible to coach a competition team;

3. Board Members enrolled in Moot Court IV must compete if they have not competed previously;

4. All Board Members enrolled in Moot Court IV shall assist the Vice President of RWA in the Spring by serving as Case Counselors and judging and scoring oral arguments for the first-year RWA oral argument competition;

5. All Moot Court IV students shall bench at least four (4) practice rounds for teams preparing for competition;

6. All Board Members enrolled in Moot Court IV are required to attend Board meetings (Unless excused by the Vice President of Moot Court pursuant to Section 4(b)(vi) of this Article.

6. Competition Team Selections

a. Rankings: Each invitee and candidate shall be ranked upon becoming a Board Member. Ranks 1-4 will be occupied by those who “argued on” to The Board pursuant to Subsection C(2) of this article. Ranks 5-8 will be occupied by those who “graded on” to The Board pursuant to Subsection C(1) of this article. Subsequent ranks will be assigned based on combination of brief and oral argument scores earned during the Tournament. These rankings shall assist the Vice President of Competitions in assigning Board Members to competitions.

b. First Competition Assignment: All Board Members are required to participate as a competitor in one (1) Competition Team during either Moot Court I or II. The following factors shall be considered in assigning a Board Member to their first competition: (a) assigned rank pursuant to Section 6(a) of this article; (b) demonstrated ability in brief writing and/ or oral advocacy in non-Moot Court experience; (c) group dynamic; and (d) dedication.

c. Subsequent Competition Assignment: Board Members who prove themselves in their first competition will be invited by the Executive Committee to participate on at least one (1) Competition Team during Moot Court III or IV. The following factors shall be considered in assigning a Board Member to their second or subsequent competition: (a) performance in previous competitions; (b) group dynamic; and (c) a Board Member’s preference for a particular subject matter or semester.

d. All other Board Members not invited to participate on a Competition Team during Moot Court III or IV shall be assigned to serve as a Team Coach.

e. Under exceptional circumstances, Board Members may be excused from a Competition Requirement by the Executive Committee upon unanimous consent from all elected officers.

ARTICLE IV. - Responsibilities of Case Counselors

1. Case Counselors are responsible for guiding Prospective Board Members in the Summer Appellate Advocacy Tournament in both the brief writing and the oral argument sections. The extent of assistance and involvement by the Case Counselors with Prospective Board Members will be determined by the Vice Presidents of Appellate Advocacy.

2. Case Counselors are responsible for guiding first-year RWA students in the Spring RWA oral argument competition. The Case Counselors will be available to first-year students to give advice and assistance with oral argument skills. The head of the RWA program will determine the extent of assistance and involvement by the Case Counselors with first-year RWA students.

ARTICLE V. - Responsibilities of Competition Teams

1. Competition Teams will consist of Board Members serving as Competitors, Coaches, and Assistant Coaches. Each Competition Team will be selected by the President, Vice President, and the Vice President of Competitions, subject to approval by the Executive Committee, and pursuant to Article III, Section 6.

2. Competitors will be responsible for:

a. Representing the Georgia State University College of Law and the Moot Court Board at competitions around the country;

b. Working together to research and write the brief;

c. Completing the brief in the time limits set forth by the Competition and Coaches;

d. Working with the coaches to establish an oral argument practice schedule;

e. Recruiting judges for oral argument practice rounds (including Professors, Alumni, Attorneys, Judges, and Board Members);

f. Working with the Vice President of Records to convey competition experiences and information after the competition is done;

g. Adhering to the guidelines outlined in the appropriate Team Handbook.

3. Coaches and Assistant Coaches will be responsible for:

a. Setting brief completion deadlines;

b. Mailing the brief to the competition as well as to other teams;

c. Working with competitors to set up oral argument practice times;

d. Recruiting judges for oral argument practice rounds (including Professors, Alumni, Attorneys, Judges, and Board Members);

e. Reporting brief deadlines and practice schedules to the Vice President of Moot Court;

f. Working with the Vice President of Competitions to ensure that the Competition Team is registered for the Competitions;

g. Work with the Vice President of Competitions to make travel, lodging, and other accommodations;

h. Working with the Vice President of Records to convey competition experiences and information after the competition is done;

i. Adhering to the guidelines outlined in the appropriate Team Handbook.

ARTICLE VI. - Disciplinary Panel

The Disciplinary Panel shall consist of five non-Executive Committee members selected by the Vice President of Moot Court with the assistance of the Executive Committee. The Disciplinary Panel shall operate and make its decisions regarding Moot Court disciplinary matters independently of the Executive Committee. If the subject of a disciplinary complaint is a member of the Disciplinary Panel, the subject shall step down and be replaced by the Vice President of Moot Court.

1. The Disciplinary Panel may take disciplinary action against a Member pursuant to the following provisions:

a. Board members are expected to handle themselves professionally at all times. Board Members shall make every effort to handle minor problems with a candidate or member without taking formal disciplinary action. In the event of serious misconduct, any member or candidate may report an individual’s misconduct to the Disciplinary Panel. The disciplinary committee shall notify the individual that a request has been made for the Disciplinary Panel to take action against such notified individual. Such requests and the identity of the individual(s) who made the request shall be kept confidential. Examples of serious misconduct include but are not limited to:

i. Failure to meet brief deadlines for a competition team;

ii. Failure to attend scheduled oral argument practices for a competition team;

iii. Failure to perform duties assigned by the Vice Presidents of Appellate Advocacy;

iv. Failure to perform duties assigned by the Vice President of RWA;

b. The Disciplinary Panel shall notify the subject of the complaint as to:

i. The nature of the complaint;

ii. The action being contemplated;

iii. Opportunities to present their case to the Panel;

iv. The possibility of rescheduling assignments, possible retribution or possible removal from the Board.

c. The Disciplinary Panel shall take care to perform its duties in an impartial, fair and discreet manner. The Panel shall convene to discuss the case, hear any statement from the subject of the complaint, hear any statement from any other involved Board members, Invitees and/or Candidates (in the example of a competition team where a member consistently misses deadlines), and shall decide the appropriate action to take, if any. The Panel should make every effort to make a decision that is in the best interests of the Board, not the subject of the complaint. Examples of appropriate action include but are not limited to:

i. Rescheduling deadlines or practice schedules. (This is the first step in dealing with competition team-related problems. Every effort should be made to accommodate all team members’ schedules. Input from the competition team coach and the other members is crucial at this stage. Should no compromise be possible the next appropriate step may be taken.)

ii. Removing the subject of the complaint from the competition team. (This step should be taken only if the other team members approve and are capable of continuing the competition without that individual. This step should be taken early enough in the competition for the other team members to adequately prepare for and meet their deadlines, at least a week before the brief is due or at least two weeks prior to oral argument. These time frames are suggestions and may be altered to suit the individual team’s needs.)

iii. Rescheduling the Board Member for additional duties within the Appellate Advocacy or RWA phase of Moot Court.

iv. Recommending to the Executive Committee for the removal of the Board Member pursuant to Article VII, Section 1.

d. The Disciplinary Panel shall notify the subject of the complaint, any involved team members, the President and the faculty advisor of their choice of actions.

i. The subject of the complaint may only appeal decisions that affect their removal from the Moot Court Board pursuant to Article VII, Section 3.

ii. Any objections as to unfairness, bias or prejudice may be made to the faculty advisor, who alone shall decide the appropriate course of action after a thorough review of the facts and the decision of the Disciplinary Panel.

ARTICLE VII. - Removal

Failure to successfully complete all required responsibilities (as defined in Article III, Article IV, and Article V) and commitments (as defined in Article III, Section 5(a)) shall be grounds for removal of the Board Member.

1. The Executive Committee may hold a removal vote in the following cases:

a. Failure of a Board Member or Invitee to complete required responsibilities or commitments as defined by these bylaws;

b. Upon recommendation by the Disciplinary Panel.

2. Decisions to remove a member from the Board will be made by simple majority vote of the Executive Committee. In the event the member whose participation in dispute is an officer, the faculty advisor will be substituted for the officer and will confer and vote in his/her place.

a. In the event of a removal vote pursuant to Section 1(a) of this Article, the subject will have an opportunity to present his/her case to the Executive Committee.

b. In the event of a removal vote pursuant to Section 1(b) of this Article, the subject will not be permitted to present his/her case to the Executive Committee. (Subject will have had the opportunity to present his/her case to the Disciplinary Panel.)

3. Appeal of a removal decision made by the Executive Committee may be made to the faculty advisor, unless the advisor has cast a vote in the removal decision, in which case appeal may be made to the Faculty Moot Court Committee.

ARTICLE IX. - Amendments

1. These bylaws are subject to the approval of the Moot Court Board and the Faculty of the Georgia State University College of Law.

2. These bylaws are subject to amendment at the behest of the Moot Court Board.

a. To amend the bylaws, a proposal of the amendment must be submitted to the Board.

b. The President shall give prior written notice of the proposed amendment(s).

c. The President shall give prior written notice of the date, time and place of the meeting called for the purpose of voting on the proposed amendment(s) to the bylaws.

d. The proposed amendment(s) must be approved by at least two-thirds of the Board members present at the meeting called pursuant to Section 2(a) of this Article.

3. These bylaws (and any amendment(s) made pursuant to Section 2 of this Article), once approved, will remain in full force and effect until future amendment(s).

(last amended 01/19/10)

(approved by Board 01/19/10)

(approved by faculty 02/18/10)