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Top individual honors and strong team performances by Mount Saint Mary’s students defined this year’s California Classic Moot Court Invitational, an annual intercollegiate competition where students argue appellate-level cases before panels of judges. This year’s edition was hosted at Mount Saint Mary’s on April 25, 2026.

Leading the way was Tajelle Denise Ruth Freeman ’26, who earned a Best Oralist Award and ranked 10th overall among competitors. She and her team partner, Brooke Fadipe ‘26, advanced to the Elite Eight as the fourth-seeded team, contributing to an impressive showing that saw four Mount teams reach the Sweet Sixteen round, and six students place among the top 25 speakers.

For Tajelle, the recognition reflected months of preparation and growth. “You study the case, court precedent and practice your argument repeatedly,” she said. “It is nerve-racking at first, but once you get comfortable, the nerves go away. You learn to stay confident, answer questions directly and trust your preparation. This experience prepares you for the rigor of arguing before an appellate court,” added Tajelle.

In total, 13 Mount students competed across multiple teams, reflecting the depth of the University’s Moot Court program: Brooke Fadipe ‘26, Tajelle Freeman ‘26, Ireland Garcia ‘29, Rania Kamel ‘27, Sonrisa Lopez ‘26, Hope Luna ‘26, Ava Martin ‘28, Isabela Pineda ‘26, Yadira Piñon ‘28, Kaylee Ramirez ‘27, Siena Ramirez ‘27, Blaise Rodriguez ‘27, and Genesis Sanchez ‘27.

Held at the Chalon Campus, the annual competition brought together 22 teams from five institutions, including the University of Southern California, Colorado Christian University, California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Fullerton; and Occidental College, in addition to the Mount. Students were challenged to argue a complex constitutional law case in a simulated appellate court setting.

For pre-law students, moot court offers hands-on experience in legal reasoning, research and oral advocacy, skills essential for future attorneys.

The California Classic Moot Court Invitational was founded by Mount Professor Emerita Helen Boutrous, PhD, JD, in collaboration with Lewis Ringel, PhD, political science progressor at California State University, Long Beach. Each spring, the competition brings together top pre-law students from across the state.

For nearly two decades, the spring invitational has served as a valuable learning experience for students newer to moot court, while also offering experienced competitors a more relaxed setting to continue refining their advocacy skills following the intensity of the regional and national tournament season.

“This competition has long been an important space for students to develop and practice their advocacy skills,” said Melanie Sava ’17, JD, assistant professor and director of the pre-law program. “It gives newer students the opportunity to learn by doing, while allowing more experienced competitors to continue refining their arguments.” Professor Sava knows the impact of the competition firsthand, as she competed in the California Classic as a student at the Mount and was the highest-scoring oralist in both 2014 and 2016.

This year’s case centered on the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination and the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, with students analyzing emerging legal questions involving brain-scanning technology and solitary confinement.

For Isabela “Bella” Pineda, a political science major with a pre-law minor, preparation is key. “There is no better way to prepare than to practice arguments,” she said. “Each time I argue, I gain more confidence.”

She added that engaging with judges is one of the most valuable aspects of the experience. “I love when judges ask questions because it makes the argument more conversational. It pushes me to defend my case to the best of my abilities.”

One of the most notable moments came from first-year student Ireland Garcia ’29, who stepped in less than 24 hours before the competition after a student from another institution was unable to compete due to a personal matter. Despite minimal preparation time, Garcia advanced to the Sweet Sixteen and ranked among the top 25 speakers — an impressive achievement for a first-year competitor.

“These kinds of experiences are transformative,” Professor Sava said. “Students begin to see themselves as future attorneys. That confidence can be life changing.”

Preparation for competitions like the California Classic Moot Court Invitational begins months in advance, with students analyzing case law, studying precedent and practicing oral arguments multiple times each week.

The event was further enriched by the presence of Mount alumnae who returned to campus as judges, including Sarah Bessell ’06, Maria Flores ‘16, Adriana Garrido ’11, Christina Imre ’72, Jane Kutepova ’11, Grigory Rchtouni ’12 and Melanie Sava ’17, along with faculty emerita Dr. Helen Boutrous. Their participation offered students valuable professional insight while underscoring the strength of the Mount’s alumnae network and its enduring commitment to student success.