Winter 2011 moot court and mock trial competitions

Below are just some of the many impressive instances of our students excelling at recent moot court and mock trial competitions. In addition to the below, Nadia Ingram was awarded second place oralist at the Wagner Labor Law competition (out of 100+ competitors) and Wayne Law Day Moot Court Competition Champions included Nicholas Mull and Natalia Santanna.

Students impress at Cardozo/BMI Moot Court Competition

March 25, 2011

PHOTO RELEASE (March 25, 2011) - Wayne State University Law School congratulates students Andrew Beck, Laura Johnson, Jeffrey Kerby and Stefanie Phillips on making it to the semifinals of the 27th annual Cardozo/BMI Entertainment and Communications Law Moot Court Competition held at Yeshiva University in New York on March 10-13.

Third-year students Beck and Kerby served as coaches to oralists and second-year students Johnson and Phillips. Phillips was ranked tenth overall out of 54 oralists.

"The Moot Court organization is very proud of the Cardozo team," said Melissa Slotta, director of Outside Competitions. "Andrew and Jeffrey are both very skilled in oral advocacy and have done a tremendous job in preparing the Cardozo team. Laura and Stefanie are highly talented and dedicated oralists. Their success at this competition is well deserved and we were proud to have them represent Wayne Law."

Standing from right to left in photo are Andrew Beck and Jeffrey Kerby. Sitting from right to left are Laura Johnson and Stefanie Phillips.

Student makes final argument sans teammate, wins in-house mock trial competition

March 21, 2011

DETROIT (March 21, 2011) - Wayne State University Law School's Winter 2011 Donald E. Barris Student Trial Advocacy Program (Mock Trial) in-house competition was held March 12 in the Law School's Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium. The final round featured Elisa Wyatt and Dan Kosmowski representing the plaintiff as they battled for the championship title against defendant representatives Jyarland Daniels Jones and Ayana Duncan.

Daniels Jones (pictured at right) advanced to compete by herself when her teammate could not be in attendance. She presented the defense case entirely on her own and won the competition.

Presiding judges included: Kiana Franulic, an attorney with the Law Offices of Kiana Franulic in Ann Arbor, Mich.; Patricia Carey, an attorney with Lakeshore Legal Aid; and Ross Brunetti and Jamil Khuja, both assistant Wayne County prosecutors.

The Student Trial Advocacy Program was founded in 1985 to train law students in trial courtroom advocacy. In a simulated courtroom setting, a student and a partner present one civil and one criminal trial over the course of the fall and winter semesters. This student-run program is open to upperclass students.

Wayne Law students excel at regional Student Trial Advocacy Competition

March 16, 2011

PHOTO RELEASE (March 16, 2011) – Wayne State University Law School congratulates students Jeremy Koscielny, Laura Kubit, Victor Walbridge and Amanda White on an impressive showing at the American Association for Justice’s 2011 Student Trial Advocacy Competition at Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Del.

The Wayne Law team won each of its trials at the competition, initially tying four other teams with the same record. The team made it through the first tie-breaking round before placing fifth in a close point comparison.

"Our students excelled," said Linda Turek, a Wayne Law adjunct faculty member and nurse-attorney with Sachs Waldman PC. "We have been tirelessly working together in preparation for this competition since last December, and it was great to see them put their respective pedals to the metal. Each one of them employed the Federal Rules of Evidence like they were born with the knowledge – much to the chagrin of their opponents. I have no doubt that these four warriors will go on to have very successful legal careers."

Seventeen total teams competed in the competition, which was one of 14 regional qualifiers. The winning team from each qualifier will compete at the final competition to be held in Las Vegas March 31 through April 3.

The above photo was taken in front of Independence Hall and features from left Jeremy Koscielny, Laura Kubit, Victor Walbridge, Amanda White and Linda Turek.

Wayne Law student wins best oralist in sports law competition

March 11, 2011

PHOTO RELEASE (March 11, 2011) – Wayne State University Law School congratulates second-year student Sarah Gale-Barbantini on winning best oralist in Tulane University Law School's Mardi Gras Sports Law Competition. More than 75 oralists from 36 ABA-accredited law schools competed in the competition, which took place March 2-4, 2011.

Fellow Wayne Law second-year student Valerie Jackson also consistently scored highly on oral arguments.

Wayne Law students Rick Merpi and Carol Bagdady served as team coaches.

"The Moot Court organization is very proud of the Tulane Team's accomplishments," said Wayne Law student Melissa Slotta, director of outside competitions. "Carol and Rick are not only excellent oralists, but are also outstanding coaches. Sarah and Valerie are highly skilled in oral advocacy and we were honored to have them represent Wayne Law. We are very proud of Sarah's success and her award serves as a true testament to her dedication and talent."

Oralists and coaches clockwise from top left include Carol Bagdady, Rick Merpi, Sarah Gale-Barbantini and Valerie Jackson.