On February 20, 2022, a team from the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FH UGM) began its journey in the national rounds of the White & Case Jessup 2022 competition. Standing out among Indonesia’s leading law schools was no easy challenge. However, through dedication and hard work, the team secured a place among the five Indonesian teams selected to compete in the White & Case Jessup 2022 International Rounds, which commenced on March 3, 2022.
The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is an annual competition organized by the International Law Students Association (ILSA) that simulates proceedings before the International Court of Justice. The competition attracts some of the world’s most outstanding law students, with participants drawn from approximately 700 law schools across more than 100 countries. Throughout the competition, teams compete against leading institutions from around the world, including universities such as Harvard University, the University of Virginia, and Sciences Po.
This year’s case addressed a range of contemporary legal issues, including human rights in cyberspace, data theft, the secession of part of a state's territory, and foreign interference in elections. These issues were divided into four principal claims. The first concerned the admissibility of evidence seized from a diplomat’s spouse and records of a conciliation meeting. The second addressed the legality of financial contributions and the dissemination of misinformation aimed at influencing a referendum in another state. The third examined the legality of suspending a social media account used to spread misinformation. The fourth concerned the legality of cyber enforcement measures involving the hacking of a local command-and-control server that ultimately accessed foreign devices.
The FH UGM team consisted of Andrea Zaharani, Alexander Cornelius Adi, Felicia Naftali Andryanti, Kesia Jadelin, Matthew Hedy Tanoto, Michael Melbourne Win Simanjuntak, and Priskila Putri Maharani Tobing. The delegation underwent more than five months of intensive preparation, including regular training sessions conducted by distinguished Jessup alumni and practice rounds with prominent legal practitioners in Jakarta.
Michael, the Head Delegate of the team, explained that this year’s journey was built upon hard work, teamwork, and trust. “As a team largely composed of first-year students and first-time mooters, we faced many doubts in the beginning. However, through perseverance and determination, we were able to prove that all of our hard work was worthwhile.”
The team achieved several notable accomplishments throughout the national rounds. In addition to earning the title of Second Runner-Up and securing qualification for the international rounds, the delegation also received awards for Best Respondent Memorial and Second Best Combined Memorial.
Haekal Al Asyari, the team’s faculty advisor, expressed his appreciation for the delegation’s achievements. “The team has undergone extensive and intensive training over the past several months. The fact that they can compete among the best law schools in the world is already an achievement in itself. The highest appreciation should be given to the coaches, along with the unwavering support provided by the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada. We hope the team will continue striving for even greater accomplishments in the future.”
On March 31, 2022, it was announced that the UGM delegation was among the 94 teams that advanced to the International Advanced Rounds. The FH UGM community hopes the delegation will continue to achieve further success and bring pride to their alma mater throughout the remainder of the competition.
