Eight Law Schools to participate in Charleston Court-Martial Challenge
The Charleston School of Law and the United States Coast Guard will host the Charleston Court-Martial Challenge the weekend of March 7-9. Eight law schools will participate and be judged by JAG Officers. The law schools competing include:
Stetson University
Howard University
Fordham University
University of South Carolina
University of Alabama
Campbell University
University of Houston
University of Nevada Las Vegas
The Challenge aims to introduce students with an interest in Military Justice and the Judge Advocate General’s Corps to the court-martial trial process in military courts. The competition will take place in person in Charleston, South Carolina on March 7-9, 2025.
The competition will be held on campus at the Charleston School of Law with Sunday’s final round will be held at the Lockwood Courthouse beginning at 2 p.m.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning we will be in rooms 103, 104, 222, and the third floor courtroom.
Competition Details
Authentic court-martial case file. Upon release of the fact pattern, we will assign a point of contact from the Coast Guard who will be available to consult with the teams on military issues.
A case packet detailing the facts and problem, to be tried according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and the Rules for Courts-Martial (RCM) applicable to military courts.
Teams try both sides of the case, meaning they will act as both a Trial Counsel (Prosecutor) and Trial Defense Service (TDS) attorney.
Each team is guaranteed four preliminary rounds, then we will cut to semi-finals. Teams may be two or four student advocates. Teams will provide their own witnesses.
Each round will have a minimum of three scoring judges.
In selecting the field, we will consider schools’ previous competition appearances and as well as schools who have had limited opportunities to compete in external competitions. We strongly encourage schools to allow 2Ls and/or students who have never participated in external law school trial competitions to compete.
The competition will provide law students with additional opportunities to meet and learn about a career in the JAG Corps from military lawyers.
To teach the practice of law as a profession, having as its chief aim providing public service;
To institute and coordinate legal outreach programs to the South Carolina and American Bars, local, state and federal governments, as well as to the general population; and
To provide an inclusive, diverse environment in which to encourage and foster collegial, collaborative and professional relationships among students, faculty, staff and the community.
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard’s mission is to protect, defend, and save people and property in the U.S. Maritime Transportation System. The Coast Guard’s service motto is Semper Paratus, which means “Always Ready.” The Coast Guard has six major operational mission programs that oversee 11 missions codified in the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
In recent years, the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy has established the largest legal assistance initiative in recent memory. The MLEA seeks to inform Coast Guard members in how legal assistance can preemptively aid in planning for the future. Whether on land or on deck, sailors can practice readiness by having their affairs in order and ready for whenever the need arises.
