Carroll College’s newly relaunched Moot Court team continues to make strides this fall, with students Ella Kuenzli, a senior from Bigfork, Mont., and Michael Faccenda, a sophomore from Great Falls, Mont., recently competing in the Drake Regional Tournament of the American Moot Court Association (AMCA) at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, November 14–15, 2025.
The Carroll pair performed impressively in their first-ever competition, finishing in the top 20 among participants from long-established Moot Court programs representing major universities. Although they did not advance to the Preliminary Round of the National Tournament next spring, the experience provided valuable insight and confidence as Carroll’s new program continues to grow.
This tournament marks the second of three regional appearances for Carroll College’s six-member team during its inaugural return season. Earlier this month, Hadley Wilcox and John Goodwin represented Carroll at the South Texas Regional Tournament hosted by Texas A&M Law School in Fort Worth, while Kate Wilkins and Reagan Long will close out the fall competition season at the Southern California Regional at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles, November 22–23.
Carroll’s Moot Court program, led by Professor Kristine D. Kuenzli, J.D., returned this fall after a seven-year hiatus. The program offers undergraduates the opportunity to develop skills in legal reasoning, persuasive argumentation, and appellate advocacy, core competencies for students considering law school or careers in public service.
Each year, the AMCA hosts around 20 regional qualifying tournaments nationwide. Two-person teams argue fictional appellate cases before panels of professors, attorneys, and judges, who evaluate competitors on their understanding of the case, clarity, responsiveness, and professionalism. The top 25% of teams earn a place at the National Championship Tournament.
The relaunch of Moot Court represents another step forward in Carroll College’s commitment to providing hands-on, high-impact learning opportunities for students interested in law, politics, and civic leadership.
To learn more about Moot Court at Carroll, visit www.carroll.edu/moot-court-team.