Mercer University Law School Takes Top Award at the 19th
        Annual National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition

For the nineteenth year in a row, law school student trial advocacy teams from all parts of the United States (as well as a team from Ireland) came to The John Marshall Law School to prosecute and defend a person accused of a serious crime. This year's mock trials involved a traffic court judge charged with driving under the influence.  The witnesses all had reasons to see things differently.

At the end of the Competition, John Marshall Professor Ronald C. Smith announced that reports from most of the 120 Chicago-area lawyers and judges who evaluated the competitors were that this year saw the best collection of student advocates in the Competition's history.

Mercer University Law School emerged as the winner of the Competition after edging out Houston University in a trial presided over by Federal Judge Charles P. Kocoras, and evaluated by several highly experienced trial attorneys. Harvard and Tulane were the semifinalist teams. Mercer's Katie Powers won both the "Best Advocate" and the "Best Cross-Examiner" awards.

Many John Marshall students assisted as bailiffs: Mark Abellera, Emily Adams, Mike Anselmo, Robert Breslin, Daniel Broderick, Carriebeth Clark, Michael Eisnach, Wendy Fawcett, Michael Fessler, Steve Hall, Tom Kelley, Katarina Durcova, David Lipschutz, Meredith Marcus, Jacqueline Marquardt, MaCayn May, Oana Militaru, Patricia Ross, Rondi Scott, Zachary Shook, Katie Siefert, and Abraham Zisook.

John Marshall fielded the team of Cheyne Adam, Ben Breslau, Megan Ortner, and Meredith Shane won two of their three trials, with Cheyne and Meredith winning perfect scores in two of the rounds.

The Advocacy Center and the staff of the National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition wish to thank all the people at John Marshall who made the Competition a great success (again!), and to recognize the many judges, lawyers, coaches, and bailiffs who volunteered their time and talent to make the competition so successful.

...by Professor Ronald Smith

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Trial Advocacy Honors Board Interviews April 23rd and 24th

Interviews for next semester's Trial Advocacy Honors Board are coming up. Participation on the Board is a great way to get involved at John Marshall.  By serving on the Board you are given an opportunity to form connections both within the John Marshall community and with practicing attorneys and judges.  We strongly encourage everyone to interview who has successfully completed at least one semester on the honors council.  Each interview will be about 15 minutes long and consist of discussing your resume, goals for the Board and also what position or positions you have an interest in and why.   

The available positions are as follows:  

Presiding Barrister -  The Presiding Barrister oversees the entire Board and Council.  The basic responsibilities of this position are to act as a liaison between the school and the Council while overseeing each Board member to ensure that their duties are being fulfilled.  This position is responsible for assisting board members in planning and executing each of their responsibilities and preparing for assigned events.  

Vice Barrister -  The Vice Barrister works with the Barrister in overseeing the other Board Members.  The Vice Barrister is also charged with supervising Board Members and reporting on their productivity and accomplishments.  

Council Liaison - The Council Liaison deals mainly with the Council members.  It is a time-consuming job that involves recruitment, ongoing contact, communication and guidance to the members. Additionally, ensuring completion of office and activity hours as well as informing council members of upcoming events and opportunities for activity hours. The Council Liaison fields questions and concerns from the council and follows up on any issues or concerns.  

1L Mock Trial Coordinator -  The 1L Coordinator oversees and administers the 1L competition each spring.  It is generally a two-semester assignment that entails creating the problem, reaching out to and securing evaluators and coaches for the competition and organizing the teams and the reception that follows.   

Events Coordinator -  The Events Coordinator Board member deals with the social events and the receptions that are held at school.  This position primarily involves securing rooms, food, beverages and invitations for the events that are held through the Trial Advocacy Center and Board.  This position works closely with the 1L coordinator for the 1L reception and also plans the entire End-of-the-Year Gala that is held for the teams that have competed within that year.   

Public Relations/Website Coordinator -  This position deals with the Trial Advocacy Center's website, to ensure that it is up to date and functioning.  In addition, this position helps create the online Center and Board newsletter, Note Bene, that is published each week informing the school of the events, successes and happenings within the Center.  

Trial Team Manager -  This position manages the trial teams that the Center selects to compete during that given semester.  It involves scheduling the tryouts, drafting tryout problems, scheduling witnesses,  team pictures, setting up hotel and plane reservations, reserving rooms to practice in, and ordering exhibits.  The manager also addresses any questions that the teams have during their preparation for competition.  

Alternative Dispute Resolution Team Manager -  This position deals with the teams that are competing for each semester in Alternative Dispute Resolution competitions (mediation, arbitration, negotiations and client counseling).  Like the trial team manager, the ADR team manager is charged with scheduling team tryouts, problems, witnesses, signups, pictures, hotel and plane reservations, reserving rooms and ordering necessary exhibits.    *

**Interview Sign-ups are in Room 411 on April 15th**  Make sure to complete the Board Application and bring a copy of your resume to the interview.   Best of luck!!

...by Danica Werhand

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  Let The Good Times Roll!

...by Nick Courson

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  An Interview With Trial Advocacy And Dispute Resolution         
         Honors Board Member - Jisoo Kim

Q: What made you choose John Marshall?

A: Someone told me I would really fit in and it was a good fit.  I liked the fact that
          the school had practical programs like the trial ad program. I found all of this to
          be true – the professors are great and so are the students.   

Q: When did you become involved with the Trial Advocacy and Dispute
          Resolution Honors Board?  

A: I was one of the winners last year’s 1L mock trial competition and I was invited
         to join the Trial Advocacy and Dispute Resolution Honors Council and then  I got
         involved with helping other teams. I also took part in the judicial externship
         program.

Q: How many competitions have you been involved in? 

A: Two: the Capital City Challenge in Washington D.C. and the 1L mock trial
          competition.   

Q: Which was your favorite competition?

A: The 1L mock trial competition because it really exposes you to what litigation is
          and it shows you how to put on a trial.   

Q: What are your plans after graduation? 

A: Hopefully find a job - I would like to get into international employment law.  

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