Journalist: Jasmine Hornek (ORU)
For many students across the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature, Moot Court is known as one of the most demanding yet transformative programs OIL offers. For Miracle Smith, a first-year OIL student from the Oral Roberts University delegation, the experience has been eye-opening—not only academically, but also in deepening her understanding of the real constitutional controversies shaping American law today.
When Smith first signed up for MOOT, she was not sure what to expect. What she found instead was a rigorous learning environment characterized by reading, studying, and meticulous time management. Although the process was initially intimidating, the practice rounds gradually gave her confidence.
“When you go inside, they are really nice,” Smith said. “They help you know what you are doing wrong. If you want to be a lawyer, it is a really good learning experience.”
When asked what it takes to succeed in MOOT, Smith did not hesitate: confidence.
“Confidence is key,” Smith explained. “When you present yourself as confident, you could almost say anything, and it seems good.” However, confidence is not everything—clear communication, concise argumentation, and strong time management are just as essential. Those skills, she notes, flow directly into what real lawyers do every day.
Smith’s first-round placement positions her as the respondent, representing the State of Oklahoma. Her task: defend the government’s decision to detain a terrorism suspect indefinitely and argue that the investigation—including warrant-less cell-phone tracking—did not violate the Fourth Amendment.
Although fictionalized for competition, Smith believes the issues are far from hypothetical. “It most definitely reflects real issues that people are facing today,” she said, pointing to controversies involving immigration detention, indefinite imprisonment, and debates over government tracking technologies.
Despite her enthusiasm, Smith offered one humorous but practical warning:
“If you are doing MOOT, I do not recommend you join the House or Senate at the same time. It is a lot of work. Just be MOOT or be in the House or Senate, but not all at once!”
For students considering a legal career, Smith is unequivocal. “Try MOOT. It is amazing.”