Ramsar assists in international environmental law competition

16 novembre 2004

Australian team wins international environmental competition at Stetson Law

The Secretary General, Peter Bridgewater, served as one of the three judges in the Stetson University College of Law's Ninth Annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition, Saturday, 29-30 October 2004, in the state of Florida, USA. It is the only moot court competition that focuses exclusively on international environmental issues, and this year's problem focused on legal liability related to alien invasive species affecting a Wetland of International Importance. The other two judges were Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington, U.S. District Court; and William Thomas, a Washington, D.C., environment and natural resource lawyer and former chair of the American Bar Association's International Environmental Law Committee.

Stetson College of Law Vice Dean Royal C. Gardner and Dean Darby Dickerson created this competition in 1996 to increase awareness about international environmental challenges. Since its inception, the event has grown to include Indian and Australasian rounds. Teams from six countries including Australia, Costa Rica, India, Ireland, and Spain participated in this year's competition, and a team from the University of Technology, Sydney, came out with the winning effort. Semi-finalist teams included Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, defeated in the finals, and West Bengal National University of Juridical Science (India) and Queensland University of Technology School of Law (Australia).

The winning team from the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, with Stetson Law Vice Dean Royal Gardner (second from left) and Secretary General Peter Bridgewater (second from right).

The judges with Stetson faculty (L to R): Royal C. Gardner, William L. Thomas, Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington, Professor Kelly Feeley and Peter Bridgewater

The judges