Supreme Court Launches 2026 High School Moot Court Season

---

Saipan, CNMI – The Supreme Court announced the key dates for its 2026 High School Moot Court Tournament, launching a competition designed to introduce students to appellate advocacy, legal reasoning, and public speaking.

The tournament case materials will release on September 2, 2026. Students will receive a fictional trial court decision, supporting exhibits, and a collection of ten cases to develop their legal arguments. Registration will remain open through September 11.

To prepare competitors, the Supreme Court will host a series of workshops covering essential advocacy skills. Participants will learn to read and analyze appellate opinions, craft effective legal briefs, and present persuasive oral arguments before a panel of justices. These workshops are designed to guide students through each stage of the appellate process and strengthen the skills needed for success in the tournament. The following schedule outlines key deadlines, workshops and other events leading up to the December competition:

Key Dates

• September 2, 2026 – Case materials released

• September 11, 2026 – Registration deadline

• September 21, 2026 – Workshop #1: Reading and Analyzing Court Cases

• October 5, 2026 – Workshop #2: Appellate Brief Writing

• November 6, 2026 – Appellate Brief submission deadline

• November 9, 2026 – Workshop #3: Oral Advocacy and Argument Presentation

• November 23, 2026 – Deadline for team roster changes

• December 3-4, 2026 – High School Moot Court Tournament at Guma’ Hustisia

Depending on funding from the Public School System Federal Programs Office, the championship team may have the opportunity to represent the Commonwealth at a competition in the mainland. Over the last three years, champion Marianas High School advanced to competitions hosted by Yale University, Georgetown University, and the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The Supreme Court looks forward to another exciting season and encourages students from across the Commonwealth to participate. The tournament offers a unique opportunity to develop critical thinking, legal analysis, writing, and public speaking skills while engaging in a challenging and rewarding academic experience.

2026-PR-029

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 19, 2026