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Located in Plantation, Florida; a beautiful, family-oriented suburb just west of Fort Lauderdale and north of Miami.

Located in Plantation, Florida; a beautiful, family-oriented suburb just west of Fort Lauderdale and north of Miami.

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State Champions at the Florida Bar Moot Court Championship

State Champions at the Florida Bar Moot Court Championship

2026BCMootCourtStateChampionHERO

The American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus, Pre-Law program reached the highest level of success at the 2025-2026 Florida Bar High School Appellate Brief Writing & Moot Court Competition. Students Jade Capella and Daniella Glebov were named state champions after presenting their final arguments at the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee.

A Rigorous Path to the State Title

The competition, organized by The Florida Bar Law Related Education Committee and the Appellate Practice Section, challenged students to master the complexities of appellate law. Participants began by drafting professional legal briefs regarding a fictitious case focused on warrantless searches and custodial interrogation. These written submissions underwent strict grading by practicing attorneys to determine which teams would move on to the oral argument phase.

After advancing through the initial rounds, Daniella and Jade traveled to the state capital to compete in the semifinals before judges of the First District Court of Appeal. Their performance earned them a spot in the championship round, where they faced off against their peers from the American Heritage Palm Beach Campus.

Arguing Before the Florida Supreme Court

The final round offered a rare opportunity for high school students to stand before the highest court in Florida. Six of the seven Florida Supreme Court Justices presided over the round, evaluating the students on their legal reasoning, professionalism, and ability to respond to intense questioning.

Coached by attorney Laura Burkhalter and sponsored by Nikki Laurie, the Broward team demonstrated exceptional command of the courtroom. The Justices ultimately judged Daniella and Jade as the top team in Florida. This victory marked a significant achievement for the Broward Campus, as they secured the first-place trophy in a field that included top high schools from across the state.

Developing Future Legal Professionals

The Florida Bar’s Moot Court program is designed to give students a hands-on introduction to the American legal system. By engaging in both brief writing and oral advocacy, students like Daniella and Jade developed critical thinking skills used by professional appellate lawyers. We congratulate our state champions for their hard work and their commitment to excellence in the field of law.