Athens, Ga. – A team of three second-year students from the University of Georgia School of Law have advanced to the national title round of the American Bar Association’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition after winning the regional tournament held in St. Louis late last month. The team’s written legal brief also took third place honors in the competition.
Georgia Law students Shunta R. Harmon, Leslie B. Horne and Rebecca M. Thornhill will compete in the national tier of the tournament in Chicago March 29-31.
“Advancing to the national title round is an honor our students have been working hard to earn. I am really pleased with the team’s efforts thus far and am hopeful about their performance at the national level,” Georgia Law Director of Advocacy Kellie Casey Monk said.
Another team from the law school, comprised of second-year students Jennifer S. Blakely and Ellen H. Persons and third-year student Stephen A. Shea, finished as semi-finalists in the regional tournament.
The teams argued the case McCarthy v. United States, a fictional appeal, to the Supreme Court. The Georgia Law teams were coached by third-year students Philip R. Green and Cristine L. Patterson, and Georgia Law alumna Holly A. Pierson served as adviser.
The ABA competition routinely features approximately 180 teams from across the country participating in regional competitions with only 20 teams advancing to the national tier of the competition each spring. Over the past 10 years, Georgia Law has captured eight ABA regional championships.
