Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)

APPROXIMATE COMMITTEE SIZE: 17 delegates

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is a hallmark and the longest-running committee at NAIMUN. NAIMUN LXIV is pleased to present the latest, most realistic iteration of the court yet. 

SCOTUS remains an integral part of NAIMUN because it offers delegates unique substantive and procedural demands. To succeed in SCOTUS, delegates must master the facts of every case, understand court precedent, and adapt legal philosophies. Throughout the weekend, delegates will take on the roles of justices, attorneys, and amicus curiae, conducting oral arguments and deliberations in real time. While the chair and staffers moderate the court proceedings, delegates are ultimately responsible for determining the direction of the committee and the outcome of the cases.

Due to the emphasis on legal practices and implications, NAIMUN caters SCOTUS to students interested in law and the legal process. However, delegates without prior legal experience or knowledge may also succeed in SCOTUS. 

The final SCOTUS case docket will be announced with the topic abstracts. It will feature three cases: one historical, one current, and one ad hoc, hypothetical case. Delegates are encouraged to think outside the box while adhering to legal precedent and processes when considering how these cases are presented, argued, and decided. 

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

CHAIR: Avelyn bailey

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

• Form a foundational understanding of legal argumentation, case analysis, and judicial review 

• Learn and simulate the complex structure and powers of the Supreme Court, from briefings to oral arguments to opinion writing, and the varying duties of each party to a case.

• Interpret important legal precedents and apply precedents as the foundation for new case argumentation 

aBOUT THE CHAIR

Avelyn Bailey is a member of the School of Foreign Service Class of 2028 majoring in Culture and Politics with a concentration in Emplacement, Indigeneity, and the Law. Originally from South Carolina, she got her start in mock government at Palmetto Girls State. This is her second year as Chair of NAIMUN’s Supreme Court (it’s like déjà vu all over again), and she can’t wait to make it better than ever before! Avelyn has also staffed NAIMUN’s collegiate and middle school sister conferences NCSC and DistrictMUN, including a tenure on the NCSC LIII Secretariat. She competes on the Georgetown Undergraduate Moot Court Team, where she has advanced to become a National Octofinalist in oral arguments and a nationally ranked brief author. When she’s not poring over opinions or sneaking puns into crisis note responses, you can find Avelyn in a board meeting for the Georgetown International Relations Club or admiring art of the American West in one of DC’s many museums.