UGA LAW ADVOCACY TEAMS FINISH COMPETITION SEASON WITH INTERNATIONAL ACCOLADE AND A SWEEP OF AN INTRASTATE COMPETITION

Monday, April 19, 2004 WRITER: Brittany Cox, 706/542-5172, lawcomm@uga.edu CONTACT: Kellie Casey, 706/542-2739, krcasey@uga.edu UGA LAW ADVOCACY TEAMS FINISH COMPETITION SEASON WITH INTERNATIONAL ACCOLADE AND A SWEEP OF AN INTRASTATE COMPETITION ATHENS, Ga. - The University of Georgia School of Law’s advocacy program recently made its presence known to the world. Second-year student Sonali Garg was named Best Oralist out of over 360 international competitors at the 2004 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the world’s largest international moot court competition. In addition, second-year students Kimberly D. Grant and Amelia A. Godfrey finished well in the best oralist competition, placing 27th and 65th, respectively. The team, also including second-year student John C. Marler, finished in the top 24 out of 94 teams after being defeated by Harvard University. Moot court teams from numerous countries including India, England, Germany and Argentina advanced to this prestigious competition after successfully capturing regional and national titles earlier this spring. Georgia Law Director of Advocacy Kellie R. Casey said, “We are so proud to have our advocacy team members among the best oralists not only in the nation, but also in the entire world. This is a wonderful way to end a successful and memorable season.” Third-year student Dawn S. Caesar coached the team, while third-year student J. Brian Edwards was the team’s brief editor. In addition, Georgia Law finished strong in the 2004 Intrastate Moot Court Competition, capturing all three first place awards. Two teams represented each of the state’s four accredited law schools. Other universities participating in the tournament were Emory, Georgia State and Mercer. The law school’s winning team was comprised of second-year students Melissa Cook, Beth F. Morris and Brian P. Watt. Third-year students Trinity M. Hundredmark and Jeff P. Shiver served as the team’s coaches. The team captured the Best Brief Award, and Watt was chosen as the best oralist. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Georgia Law has won the statewide competition and had a student named best oralist. After watching the success of the school’s seasoned advocacy competitors, future Georgia Law advocates recently had an opportunity to compete in the 2004 Russell Moot Court Competition, an internal moot court competition for first-year law students. Two finalists presented oral arguments before a panel of legal experts. The jury was comprised mostly of sitting judges, including two justices of Georgia’s Supreme Court. They decided in favor of the defendant, represented by Meredith A. Stein. The plaintiff was represented by Jason T. Burnette. The jury panel consisted of Georgia Supreme Court justices George H. Carley and P. Harris Hines, Georgia Court of Appeals Judge J.D. Smith, Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary E. Staley and UGA Associate Provost Jere W. Morehead. Sixty-four first-year students participated in this year’s competition. Competitors reaching the Alumni Round of Eight will be invited to join the Georgia Law Moot Court Team, and the top two advocates advanced to the final round that was held April 2. These competitions complete the 2003-04 advocacy season for Georgia Law. In total, the law school won five first place oralist trophies, placed second in two national competitions and captured three regional/state championships in addition to numerous other individual and teams honors. #