TITLE: Recognizing the Howard Payne University Moot Court team for its performance in a national championship.

SUMMARY: Recognizing the Howard Payne University Moot Court team for its performance in a national championship.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize members of the Howard Payne University Moot Court team, who won several awards at the American Moot Court Association 2017 National Championship Tournament on January 6 and 7; and WHEREAS, The Moot Court tournament is a competition during which students from across the nation prepare and argue cases in front of judges in an environment that is designed to simulate presenting arguments before the United States Supreme Court; the 2017 tournament took place at the Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida; and WHEREAS, Two teams from Howard Payne University qualified to compete in the national tournament; Caitlin Wood and Jackson Spencer qualified by advancing to the quarterfinals at the Texas A&M University School of Law Regional Tournament, and Rebeca Puente and Isaac Sommers qualified at the same regional tournament by beating the United States Air Force Academy in the final round; and WHEREAS, Isaac Sommers was named fifth overall speaker among the 786 competitors at the national event, and the Puente-Sommers team advanced to outrounds, where they placed in the top 16 of 80 teams; in a competition of written arguments submitted prior to the tournament, two Howard Payne University teams won awards for petitioner briefs; the team of Bailey Myler and Justin Harris placed sixth, and the Puente-Sommers team placed seventh; and WHEREAS, These distinguished law students worked tirelessly in preparation for this national competition; they have proven their ability to apply complex case law to difficult legal scenarios, and they can indeed take pride in their outstanding accomplishments; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th Legislature, hereby commend the winning team members from Howard Payne University for their exceptional performances at the American Moot Court Association 2017 National Championship Tournament and extend to them best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for them as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. Buckingham President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 6, 2017.