Washington D.C. / Bochum. The team of Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) has achieved the best result in its history at this year’s White & Case Jessup Cup, the World Championship in International Law.

The law-students Çağatay Maloğlu, Rafaela Rietz, Jessica Schäfer, Luis Zilm, and Cem Zor prevailed in a field of over 150 teams worldwide and reached the round of 32. While three RUB teams had previously qualified for the International Rounds in the long history of the Jessup, only one team before had managed to advance this far in the knockout stage of the competition, thus ranking among the Top 32 out of more than 800 participating universities.

Sensational Victory over Harvard and Outstanding Individual Performances

The International Rounds traditionally took place in Washington D.C. from March 28 to April 4. After a confident preliminary round with victories against teams from Puerto Rico, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia, the Bochum team achieved a real coup: with a sensational win over the highly favoured Harvard Law School, they secured a spot in the last 32. In a very close match against the University of Glasgow, the team was ultimately defeated.

In addition to the team-success, the Bochum students also shone in the special categories. The written submissions (Memorials) were recognised as the 15th best worldwide. There was also individual reason to celebrate: Rafaela Rietz was honoured as one of the 40 best oralists (36th place) of the entire competition.

Success through Team Spirit and Strong Support

This Jessup season concludes with a historic milestone. This success was made possible through the intensive mentoring of the coaches Dilara Karmen Yaman, Stanislau Lashkevich, and Yari-Lasse Jäger (all IFHV), as well as the broad support of the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV). Special thanks go to Prof. Dr. Pierre Thielbörger, who once again supported the team with great personal commitment.

The team was also supported by several sponsors who made participation in Washington possible in the first place: Kümmerlein, Noerr, JonesDay, Luther, Blomstein, the law firm Hartmann, Barkhoff & Partner, as well as the Verein zur Förderung der Rechtswissenschaft e.V. and the Ruhr University Bochum all contributed to the team’s success.

A Competition with International Prestige

Founded in 1960 at Harvard University, the “Jessup” is the oldest and largest moot court in the world. Students argue a fictitious case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in English. After a five-month preparation period, during which written pleadings (memorials) for the Applicants and Respondents are prepared, the oral rounds follow.

This year, alongside the RUB (as the German National Champion), Bucerius Law School as well as the Universities of Hamburg and Heidelberg represented Germany in the USA.

Due to the current political situation and in order to ensure barrier-free participation for all nations, the organisers have announced that the competition will leave the USA in the future. Where Jessup’s journey will go next year remains to be eagerly awaited.