UGA School of Law wins third national advocacy title, Blakely wins internal competition

Abstract

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

WRITER: Kristin Kissiah, 706/542-5172, lawcomm@uga.edu CONTACT: Kellie Casey Monk, 706/542-2739, krcasey@uga.edu

UGA School of Law wins third national advocacy title, Blakely wins internal competition

ATHENS, Ga. - The University of Georgia School of Law's advocacy program claimed its third national trophy this year by winning the 21st Annual Dean Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence Moot Court Competition last week (April 6-8) in New York.

The Georgia Law team, composed of second-year students Quentasha L. Banks, Merritt E. McAlister and Andrew D. Stancil, overcame 34 teams from across the nation to capture the first place title. Additionally, McAlister received an award for best oralist, while the team was recognized for preparing the tournament's second best brief. Third-year student J. Alex Reed coached the team.

This win follows first-place finishes at the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition and the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition and closes out the 2005-06 advocacy season with three national crowns, one regional trophy and one state title.

"Our teams are always up to the challenge of being the best they can possibly be, and the Prince competition was no exception," Georgia Law Director of Advocacy Kellie Casey Monk said. "I am so proud of the tremendous effort all of our students have put forth this year, and I think their hard work really reflects well upon the school as a whole."

Additionally, last Friday, the law school completed an internal tournament for first-year students, the Richard B. Russell Moot Court Competition. The finalists, Jennifer S. Blakely and Tully T. Blalock, presented arguments to a distinguished panel of jurists, which included Georgia Court of Appeals judges Anne E. Barnes, John J. Ellington and Herbert E. Phipps. Blakely was named the competition's winner and received the Jere Morehead Best Oralist Award.

This annual contest provides first-year students the opportunity to present oral arguments based on self-composed appellate briefs. Other students finishing in the top eight positions were: Cameron D. Hawkins, Leslie B. Horne, Naveen Ramachandrappa, Catherine D. Runion, Emily E. Shingler and Alexandra H. Yeager. All eight finalists will be invited to participate in the law school's accomplished advocacy program during the coming academic year.

Casey Monk said internal competitions allow future advocates to build their skill set. "They also provide a great foundation for the continued excellence of Georgia Law's advocacy program."

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