“A moot is a legal debate in a courtroom setting ... [T]eams of counsel attempt to persuade a judge of the strength of their case by reference to legal authority.” – University of Aberdeen’s A Guide to Mooting

“Twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest information about what you find interesting. … At the heart of Twitter are small bursts of information called Tweets. Each Tweet is 140 characters in length, but don’t let the small size fool you—you can share a lot with a little space.” - Twitter website

On Tuesday, February 21st, 2012, at 10am PST (1pm EST), West Coast Environmental Law (West Coast) will be hosting the world’s first ever Moot Court held on the popular social media platform, Twitter.  Three judges and teams from five law schools across Canada will make social media and legal history, participating in a mock appeal of a recent precedent-setting environmental case, with the teams and judges all participating via Twitter. 

Twitter, of course, is one of the most popular social media sites in the world, with approximately 300 million users world-wide.  Since messages posed are generally 140 characters or less, it might not seem like an obvious venue for a moot – a simulated courtroom fight.  But this event, which will focus on a recent environmental case, will bring environmental law issues, West Coast Environmental Law, and the students who participate to the attention of a world-wide audience.

Click below to learn more about the 1^st ever Twitter Moot, including:

• how you can participate;
• the appeal that will be argued; and
• the teams and judges.

The Hashtag for this event (for those on Twitter) is #twtmoot.  Please use it if you tweet about the moot.

Who's who in this Twitter Moot

Teams of two students from law schools from across Canada - Dalhousie, Ottawa, UBC, UVic, and York - will compete against each other for Twitter Moot supremacy.  For more information on the teams from each university please click here.

The Twitter Moot will be presided over by a panel of three judges.  The three confirmed Judges are William Deverell, Omar HaRedeye, and Kathleen Mahoney.  For more information on the Twitter Moot judges, please click here.

West Coast is grateful to all teams and judges for agreeing to participate in the first-ever Twitter Moot, and to our sponsors.  

If you like the idea of a Twitter Moot, show your support through a donation.