Leiden University wins the English version of the ICC Trial Competition
Today, 26 April 2013, Leiden University won the final round of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Competition, English version, held in ICC Courtroom I in The Hague (Netherlands). Osgoode Hall Law School of York University (Canada) and Bond University (Australia) won, respectively, second and third place. The Best Speaker award went to Katherine Stewart of Osgoode Hall Law School. Leiden University’s winning team was composed of John Doyle, Sophie Beelaerts van Blokland, Uzay Aysev, Alexander Wills, Joe Holt, Daniel Huck and Adrian Plevin.
37 teams from 27 countries worldwide participated in this year’s simulation exercise on the applicable law and jurisprudence of the ICC. Before a bench composed of ICC Judge Howard Morrison (presiding) and ICC officials Natasha Naidoo and Philipp Ambach, the teams competed on a fictitious case, presenting oral arguments during an appeals hearing in the roles of Prosecution, Defence and Legal Representatives of Victims.
After a break for deliberations, ICC Judge Morrison announced the bench’s decision and an awards ceremony was held for all participants. The finalists’ peers attended the event in the Court’s public galleries and the event was web streamed live on the Court’s official website.
The ICC Trial Competition is organised by the International Criminal Law Network (ICLN) with the institutional support of the ICC. Pace University, the Centre for Innovation The Hague, Leiden University and the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies are also cooperating in the project, with the support of the Governments of Australia, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Luftia Rabbani Foundation, the International Bar Association (IBA) and the City of The Hague.
In the context of its Academic Programme, the ICC supports the organisation of ICC Trial Competitions in English, Spanish, Russian and Chinese. These initiatives play a critical role in galvanising interest in the Court’s work with academic communities as well as in enhancing promotion and respect for international criminal law.
View photographs of the event here You can also follow the Court’s activities on YouTube and Twitter
For further information, please contact Sonia Robla, Chief of the Public Information and Documentation Section, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-8089 or on +31 (0) 6 46 44 87 26 or by e-mail at: [email protected]