Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)

APPROXIMATE COMMITTEE SIZE: 17 delegates

Carrying on one of NAIMUN’s well-valued traditions, the Supreme Court of the United States committee places delegates in the positions of the justices and advocates as they discuss pressing constitutional issues. This committee serves as a live simulation of SCOTUS’s proceedings as they debate and decide cases — one prominent case from American history, one from the last couple of years, and one legal hypothetical chosen from among the major issues facing American law today. When delegates arrive at the Washington Hilton in February, they will deliberate on cases argued at the real Supreme Court fewer than four miles away. We are looking forward to calling the court to order at NAIMUN LXII!

Note: Technology may be allowed in SCOTUS at the chair’s discretion.

CHAIRs: Eilat Herman and charlotte bertrand

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

• Receive an understanding of the basics of legal argument, analyzing a case, and debating the merits of legal viewpoints. 

• Learn the process of a Supreme Court appeal, from briefings to oral arguments to opinion writing, and the varying duties of each party to a case.

• Come to understand what separates SCOTUS from the legislative and executive branches of government and substantive legal issues. 

• Develop important communicative skills through oral argumentation and defense.

aBOUT THE CHAIRS

Eilat Herman is a member of the Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences class of 2026, studying Government and perpetually flipping between seven minors that most certainly do not include economics. Eilat has competed in and staffed Model UN since high school, and had the honor of serving as the Under-Secretary-General of Non-Traditionals at both NAIMUN LXI and NCSC LI, NAIMUN’s sister conference for college students. Currently, she serves as the Chief of Staff for NCSC LII. Outside of Model UN, Eilat serves as the Co-President of Georgetown’s Moot Court team and writes a baseball column for Georgetown’s school newspaper, The Hoya. Being from Montclair, New Jersey — a state towards which she will accept no criticism (so zip it Charlotte) — Eilat is an avid New York Yankees fan, and spends way too much of her limited free time watching baseball. Most importantly, Eilat served as the Director of the Supreme Court at NAIMUN LX, managed it last year as a USG, and is thrilled to return to the objectively best NAIMUN committee as a chair.

Charlotte Bertrand is a student in Georgetown's Walsh School of Foreign Service, class of 2025, majoring in International Politics with a concentration in International Security and a minor in Spanish. Charlotte, too, has been involved in Model UN since high school, was honored to serve as Director of Operations for NCSC LI, the college version of NAIMUN, and currently serves as Chief Communications Officer for the Georgetown International Relations Association, the nonprofit that runs NAIMUN. Outside of MUN, because yes, there is an outside of MUN, Charlotte is part of the Georgetown European Club (she is French and WILL mention it), a frequent flyer of Georgetown’s gym, often seen panting during a run at the monuments, and a big proponent of quality time with friends. Charlotte was born and raised in San Francisco and will, in fact, criticize New Jersey because how can it be cool when it's on the objectively second-best coast? She and Eilat bond over their love of baseball, but definitely have some Giants-Yankees beef going on. Nonetheless, Charlotte is elated to chair alongside Eilat and excited to see how delegates approach the mystifying realm of the NAIMUN's SCOTUS!