Potter Stewart, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, presided over the final round of the Ames Moot Court competition at the Law School last night, hearing arguments on a fictional case prepared and presented by third year law students.

Justice Phyllis Kravitch of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and Justice Louis M. Pollak of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania joined Stewart in judging Fenton Oil Company, Inc. v. Amar Petroleum Co.

Students argued the right of the Supreme Court to rule on a case involving a foreign, state-owned oil company in light of a fictional congressional restriction on the Court's overseas jurisdiction.

Over There

The justices, who base their decisions on the skills of the participants instead of the merits of the case, decided in favor of the six students who argued for the Court's right to hear the case.

After the Court announced its decision, Pollak praised the participants for offering "a level of argument that gladdens the professional ear."

"It's nice to know that the future is in such firm hands," Stewart told the more than 1000 people who watched the proceedings at the Ames Courtroom in Austin Hall and on video-tape in the Science Center.

Albert M. Sacks, dean of the Law School, last night called the competition "an ideal educational experience because it's self-motivated and contextual."

Marcia Rimai, one of the participants on the losing side, said although winning would mean a lot to her, the competition was important because "it touches on issues at the forefront of current legal and political controversies."

Law School students are picked for the prestigious competition each year.