Jessup Moot Court Team 2025/26

I am Sara Woelfel, a master’s student of Political Science at FSU Jena, specializing in Global & European Governance. Through Jessup, I’m excited to apply my passion for international law in a competitive and practical setting. I am looking forward to discussing and mastering complex legal issues with my teammates. Outside academics, you’ll find me in the gym weightlifting – or lost in an exciting novel.

My name is Theo Rühlmann, and I am currently in my fifth semester of law studies in Bayreuth and Jena. I found passion in the topic of law itself, but since German legal education can feel stifling, I seized the opportunity to study it in a completely different format beyond the confines of national law. This competition unites a highly motivated, diverse team around a common goal and offers a deep dive into a specific topic, which I particularly enjoy. Outside the office, I explore the world as the foodie of the group, often diving into my favorite rabbit hole: coffee

I am Janik Morgner, a fifth-term law student at FSU Jena. The Jessup Moot Court is an opportunity to unite my passion for debate with my interests in international law and politics. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate and look forward to the challenging yet rewarding process of research and argumentation. Especially working as a team - exchanging ideas, learning from one another, developing creative solutions to complex questions - excites me. Beyond law, I am passionate about marathon running - which has taught me valuable lessons in patience, endurance, and discipline - and tapirs, the best animals in the world.

Polina Kulish is a research fellow and PhD candidate at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena. She also works as a Managing Editor for the Völkerrechtsblog. During her PhD project, she completed a Bluebook Traineeship at the European Commission in 2022/2023. Her research encompasses the law of international organizations, including the UN, the EU, the EEA, and the EAEU, as well as international security law and media law. She is a former recipient of a Konrad Adenauer Foundation academic scholarship and has been actively involved in moot court communities as a participant, coach, and judge. As a Kyiv-Mohyla Academy team member in Telders 2016–2017, she represented Ukraine in the international rounds, where her team placed 4th and was awarded 2nd place in oral pleadings. The following year, she competed with Jena University in Jessup. Since 2021, she has contributed as a coach for public international law moot courts. From 2020 to 2022, she also served as a judge in the Jessup and Price Media Law competitions.

Evandro Proença Süssekind is a Research Fellow at the Chair of International Law at Friedrich-Schiller University Jena. He holds a Ph.D. in Law from São Paulo University and Erfurt University (cotutelle), an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, and an M.Sc. in Political Science from Rio de Janeiro State University (IESP-UERJ).

Katharina is a student assistant at the Chair of International Law. After participating as a team member in the Jessup in 2023 and 2024 and coaching the 2025 Jessup Team, she now seeks to use her experience to support the 2026 Jessup Team.

Balthasar is a law student in his seventh semester at the University of Jena and currently serves as a coach for the Jessup Moot Court Team. Having competed in last year’s Jessup, he now supports this year’s team with his experience and insights. His academic interests lie primarily in public international law and legal philosophy.

Clara Patotzki is a student assistant for the Jessup Moot Court with the Chair of International Law. She’s currently in her third semester of law at the Friedrich-Schiller University in Jena. Her main interests lie in German and European public law and international law. The Jessup Moot Court is a great opportunity for her to learn more about international law and deepen her legal English knowledge.