Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 5, 1 May 2014 — Law students argue for indigenous sovereignty and worker rights [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Law students argue for indigenous sovereignty and worker rights

By Derek Kauanoe University of Hawai'i William S. Richardson School of Law students maintained a dominating presence at the 22nd annual Nahonal Native American Law Students Association's Moot Court Competition, with three Richardson teams placing among the top four teams in the competition. While a fourth straight win eluded the Hawai'i law students, they nonetheless brought home three awards - competing against more than 70 two-person teams from throughout the United States. Morgan Evans, a third-year law student, won second plaee best oralist. Jordan Inafuku and Kelsey Anderson, both secondyearlaw students,won secondplace best team, while Evans with fellow third-year law student Kurt Klein, the team captain, won third plaee best team. For the first time in recent history, eompetition organizers recognized a fourth-place team with an award: SEE M00Ī C0URT ON PAGE 17

Richardson Law School students gather on the steps of the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where they won three awards in the Nahonal Native Amehean Law Students Association's Moot Court Competition. Back row, from left are: team captain Kurt Klein, Kevin Richardson, Matt Ka'aihue, Jordan lnafuku and Ikaika Rawlins. Front row, from left: Ka'ili Akina, Morgan Evans, Sarah Miller, Sommerset Wong, Kelsey Anderson, Megan Moniz and Daylin-Rose Gibson. - Courtesy: William S. Richardson School ofLaw

MOOĪ C0URT

Continued from page 5 third-year student Daylin-Rose Gibson and second-year law student Sarah Miller captured fourth plaee best team. In the 22-year history of the eompetition, Richardson law students have won a total of 36 awards. "We demonstrated again that the William S. Richardson School of Law is a leader in developing advocates for indigenous rights as well as sensitivities to indigenous peoples' issues both legal and nonlegal," Klein said. At the end of the first competition day, the school represented 25 percent of the top 16 teams of the competition. The teams of Klein and Evans, Inafuku and Anderson, and Gibson and Miller easily argued their way to the Elite 8 quarterfinal round and the Final Four semifinal round. These three Richardson teams placed among the top four teams in the competition.

The competition problem dealt with the issue of whether a federally recognized indigenous government, within the United States, was exempt from a federal labor law. Students enjoyed the complexity of the problem, realizing that on the one hand a federal agency is advocating for worker rights while on the other an indigenous eommunity exercises its own sovereignty and seeks to protect that. Due to the design of the competition, students are forced to argue one side in one round, then turn around and argue the opposite side of the case. Going into the elimination rounds, Klein anticipated tough competition. When possible, he and his partner consistently chose to argue for the tribal government. Klein explained the logic behind this decision, "If we're going to lose, let's lose while defending Native rights." Richardson's Native American Moot Court teamreceived generous support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the McCorriston Miller

Mukai MaeKinnon law firm and the William S. Richardson School of Law. Additionally, more than 40 federal and state judges, attorneys, alumni and law faculty helped prepare students for the competition. Students appreciated the opportunity to practice with experienced professionals and with eaeh other. "I could not have had a better way of ending my law school career than this moot court experience.I'm a better advocate today, because of everyone on the team," said Ikaika Rawlins. The competition was held at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, on Feb. 28 and March 1. Oklahoma is home to one of America's largest federally recognized indigenous communities, the Cherokee Nation. ■ Derek Kauanoe is the student and community outreach coordinator for Ka Huīi Ao Centerfor ExceIIence in Native Hawaiian Law.