UGA LAW SCHOOL REACHES QUARTERFINALS OF NATIONAL TRIAL COMPETITION, TWO MORE TEAMS HEAD TO NATIONAL TOURNEYS

Abstract

Monday, March 26, 2001

WRITER: Kathy R. Pharr, (706) 542-5172, pharr@arches.uga.edu

CONTACT: Kellie Casey, Advocacy Director, (706) 542-2739

UGA LAW SCHOOL REACHES QUARTERFINALS OF NATIONAL TRIAL COMPETITION, TWO MORE TEAMS HEAD TO NATIONAL TOURNEYS

ATHENS, Ga. -- The University of Georgia School of Law reached the quarterfinals of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) National Tournament, held in New Orleans, La., March 22 - 25. The UGA team finished among the top eight competitors from a national field that began with 208 teams.

UGA secured a bid in the mock trial tournament by winning ATLA's northeast regional tournament held March 1 - 4 in Providence, Rhode Island. Team members included third-year students S. Mark Mitchell and N. Michele Harris and second-year students Ryan P. Reavis and Shalena M. Cook. Second-year student Caroline P. Rogers served as their student coach. The team acted as both attorneys and witnesses in a trial setting, arguing a hypothetical civil suit brought by a mother against state-employed paramedics for failing to diagnose and transport her 16-year-old son, who later died.

In other UGA advocacy program news, the law school will be sending two moot court teams into national competition in the coming weeks. Three law students will represent UGA in the finals of the American Bar Association (ABA) National Appellate Advocacy Competition, to be held in Chicago March 29 - 31. The team consists of second-year law students Drew D. Baiter, Lauren E. Sheridan and Tiffany S. Rowe. Third-year students Samuel C. Burch and Laura J. Hill coach the ABA team, and Holly A. Pierson, an attorney with the Atlanta law firm of King & Spalding and a former UGA moot court member, serves as advisor.

Next week, April 1 - 7, another UGA moot court team will compete in the national/international rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C. Representing UGA will be second-year law students Claudia P. Campo, James R. "Rob" McNiff, Daniel C. "Clint" Pridgen and Megan K. Watkins. Third-year student Anne Allen Westbrook serves as student coach. Former Jessup world champion team member Myra K. Creighton, now partner at the Atlanta law firm of Fisher & Phillips, acts as team advisor and coach. In 1996 and 1994, UGA won the national championship and reached the Final Four of the Jessup tournament's international rounds; UGA also won the national title in 1991, and both the national and international titles in 1990.

The University of Georgia's moot court and mock trial programs are under the supervision of Advocacy Director Kellie R. Casey.

# #

Share

COinS