Charleston Law, US Coast Guard create first court-martial mock trial competition

The Charleston School of Law and the U.S. Coast Guard Judge Advocate General formally announced a new partnership that will create the nation’s first court-martial mock trial competition for law students. The competition will be hosted between Charleston Law and the Coast Guard JAG, Office of the Chief Prosecutor.

“The Charleston School of Law is all about community, both internally and externally through community partnerships,” said Charleston School of Law Dean, Provost, and Professor of Law Larry Cunningham. “We forged this partnership for the benefit of not only the students, but the community itself. We’re excited to be able to expose students from around the country to the court-martial process and provide them the opportunity to try a court-martial case.”

The agreement creates the court-martial competition but also memorializes the parties’ desire to continue its successful externship program in which second- and third-year law students help the local Staff Judge Advocate at the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy by providing legal services to the Coast Guard in North Charleston.

The new competition was announced at an event at the Law School which brought together senior officers from the Coast Guard, current and former externs, and faculty and leadership of the Law School. A ceremonial signing of an agreement between the Coast Guard and the Law School in the Law School’s recently constructed Moot Court Room.

Cunningham said the Law School will host the early rounds of the competition with the finals being held at the Office of the Chief Prosecutor in North Charleston.