Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia School of Law will advance to the international tier of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition after a strong performance at the southeast regional tournament.
Second-year law students Benjamin W. Cheesbro, Anna W. Howard, Kevin P. Murphy and Tina Termei finished as regional finalists and won the Best Memorial Award (brief), with Cheesbro being named best oralist for the final round of the competition. They defeated teams from Emory University, Washington and Lee University and the University of Alabama, among others, to place second in the regional contest and to earn the right to vie for the world title in Washington, D.C., later this month.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our students,” Director of Advocacy Kellie Casey Monk said. “This competition attracts over 500 teams from more than 80 countries and is one of the largest and most prestigious moot court competitions in the world. To qualify for the international tier is a great honor and a tremendous accomplishment.”
Third-year students Andrew J. Lavoie and Amanda L. Brooks served as brief editor and student coach, respectively, and Georgia Law alumnae Myra K. Creighton (J.D.’91) and Amelia A. “Amy” Godfrey (J.D.’05) served as coaches.
Additionally, Georgia Law’s Davenport-Benham Chapter of the Black Law Students Association recently captured first place in a regional Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition.
Third-year law students Danielle D. Davis, Candace A. Hill, Melanie D. Reed and Arlisa A. Woodard beat 23 teams to take the crown and will advance to the national tier of the tournament, which will take place in California during March.
Georgia Law second-year students Princewell N. Njoku, Joi R. Reed, Natalece I. Washington and third-year student Geoffrey Alls also competed in the mock trial tournament and finished as quarterfinalists.
“Both teams worked tirelessly to be successful at the regional competition,” team coach Candace Hill said. “It was rewarding to see that hard work pay off with one of our teams advancing to nationals.”
Georgia Law’s BLSA also had a team finish in the quarterfinals at a regional round of the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition. The team was composed of second-year law students Tia L. Daniels and Elizabeth R. Givens.