Trial Advocacy Teams Compete At ATLA Regional Competition
Two Washburn University School of Law Trial Advocacy teams competed in the American Trial Lawyers Association Student Trial Advocacy Competition regionals March 2-5, 2006 in Kansas City, Missouri. Teams are judged on their skills in case preparation, opening statements, use of facts, the examination of lay and expert witnesses and closing arguments.
The team of Robert Babirad, Jay Hall, Jeff King and Stacey Schwimmer completed round one with no trial losses, solidly in first place among the 16 teams. The team remained undefeated through three rounds of the competition and was one of four teams competing in the semi-finals against perennial powerhouses Washington University and Arkansas, the eventual winner of the regional competition.
The team of Aubrey Borel, Anthony Hunter, Mellissa Schoen and Katherine Vandegrift won two out of three trials in the first round, losing only to Washington University's second team entered in the competition. Teamwork made up for the short period they had to practice collectively. Vandegrift was the only original ATLA trial team member and Hunter, Schoen and Borel joined the team a few weeks prior to the competition.
Judge David Mason, the Washington University coach for the past 20 years, remarked that Washburn's program has made the regional competition more competitive and challenging.
J. Todd Hiatt, Ralston, Pope & Diehl, Topeka, agreed. "Both [Washburn] teams acquitted themselves admirably and earned the respect of the jurists, practicing attorneys, law professors and coaches who witnessed their performances," he said.
