UGA SCHOOL OF LAW WINS NATIONAL ADVOCACY TOURNAMENT

Thursday, April 17, 2003 WRITER: Heidi Murphy, 706/542-5172, hmurphy@uga.edu CONTACT: Kellie Casey, 706/542-2739, krcasey@uga.edu UGA SCHOOL OF LAW WINS NATIONAL ADVOCACY TOURNAMENT ATHENS, Ga. - The University of Georgia School of Law won the top trophy at the National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition, sponsored by the American Bar Association and the John Marshall Law School, in Chicago, Ill., on April 3-5. Third-year students Joshua B. Belinfante, Megan E. Jones and Nicholas G. Walter teamed up with second-year student Andrew H. Speaker to take home the national title. In addition, Jones won the competition\u27s Best Advocate Award. In the last two rounds, UGA outargued teams from Syracuse and Harvard universities. School of Law Director of Advocacy Kellie R. Casey said she could not be prouder of these four advocates. They distinguished themselves as the best team because they worked so well as a team. Round after round, the judges commented on how they complimented each other. It has been at least five years since we [UGA] participated in the National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition, Casey continued. It is great to come back and win, overcoming such prestigious teams as Harvard and Syracuse. This is the final advocacy competition for the School of Law this academic year. In total, UGA won one national title, finished number two in two other competitions and in the final four of another. The school also won five regional/state titles in addition to numerous individual and team honors. #