Jessup Moot Court Competition

On 20 February 2012, a team of five students represented Leiden University in the national rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the largest mooting competition in the world.

Every year, ILSA (the International Law Students Organisation) publishes a fictional case brought by two fictional countries before the International Court of Justice. This year’s case dealt with a wide range of issues relating to the legitimacy of governments, the use of force by international organizations, state immunity and cultural property law. Leiden University was represented by five students from our Public International Law LL.M. (Reg.) programme (Karlia Lykourgou, Bethany Singer-Baefsky, Norbert Pal, Viorela Bubau and Boryana Zareva), who were coached by Dr. Freya Baetens and Ruben Zandvliet.

The students, divided in an Applicant and a Respondent team, started in October with the preparation of their written argument in the form of two extensive memorials. Subsequently the team commenced practicing for the oral pleadings. During the Dutch national rounds on 10 February which took place at the Asser Institute, the Leiden team presented its case to various benches of judges and experts in the field of public international law. These year’s national rounds were won by Utrecht University.