(Press Release) — The CNMI Supreme Court will host the annual high school moot court competition on Dec. 4–5, 2025, at the Guma’ Hustisia on Saipan.
This year, over 15 teams prepared written briefs on a mock First Amendment case exploring the scope of student free speech rights. Acting as attorneys, the students will present their arguments before volunteer justices in simulated appellate proceedings.
The competition schedule is:
• Preliminary Rounds – 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. Each team will compete in at least two rounds. The total scores will determine advancement.
• Semi-Finals – 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. The top teams will face off in elimination rounds.
• Final Round – 11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. The championship round will be livestreamed on Facebook via the CNMI Judiciary’s website.
In preparation for the competition, students developed their legal skills through multiple workshops with the local Supreme Court. On Dec. 1, their teacher and attorney coaches attended an orientation to prepare for the competition while the volunteer justices attended their orientation on Dec. 2 to help ensure uniformity of scoring and readiness for the competition.
The moot court competition provides students with a unique opportunity to experience the appellate process firsthand and to develop critical thinking and public speaking skills. The champions will advance to the regional moot court competition held at Georgetown University in March 2026.
The competition is sponsored by the PSS Federal Programs Office and the Northern Marianas Judiciary Historical Society, with assistance from CNMI Bar Association members.
