Duke University School of Law Moot Court Board

Policy on
Member Communication with 1Ls
The Moot Court Board wants to ensure that only accurate and consistent information is shared with the 1L class regarding the Hardt Cup.  The Board also believes that it is essential to avoid any appearance of impropriety or favoritism by sharing inside information regarding the selection of new Board members through the Hardt Cup.  Therefore the Board has implemented the following rules regarding communication between first year students and current and former Board members.
Communication of the following is permissible:
  1. Any information shared by the Hardt Cup Coordinators or Board members designated by the Coordinators in Legal Analysis Reading and Writing (LARW) class information sessions.
     
  2. Any information shared by the Coordinators or designated Board members in general information sessions for first year students regarding the Moot Court Board and/or the Hardt Cup competition.
     
  3. Any information shared by the Coordinators or designated Board members during Moot Court office hours, which are open to all first year students.
     
  4. Information shared regarding the MootCourt Board in general (e.g., requirements and benefits of membership, activities, etc.), provided that this information does not concern any aspect of the Hardt Cup competition.
     
  5. Any information shared by a Board member in his/her capacity as LARW teaching assistant regarding the LARW appellate brief topics (which historically have been the bases of the first round problems in the Hardt Cup competition) or oral advocacy to the extent they are required to do so in their positions as teaching assistants.
Communication of the following is prohibited:
  1. Any information regarding the Hardt Cup competition which is shared by a Board member who has not been designated by the Coordinators to discuss information regarding the competition rules and procedures, judging rules and procedures, scoring criteria and procedure, and/or the contents of the bench briefs.
     
  2. Outside of their role as judge during the competition, any practicing, or pointers, tips, or training regarding substantive or stylistic aspects of the Hardt Cup competition or problems given by Board members, other than the Coordinators.
    3.
The Executive Board of the Moot Court Board reserves the right to impose upon any Board member whatever type of punishment it deems appropriate for an infraction of the aforementioned prohibitions.  Likewise the Hardt Cup Coordinators reserve the right to impose upon any Hardt Cup competitor who is the willful and knowing recipient of any such prohibited communications whatever sanctions it deems appropriate, including disqualification from the competition.