The Brendan Moore Trial Advocates continued their stellar spring, placing two teams, including a finalist, among the top four at a recent trial advocacy competition in Brooklyn and another team as a semifinalist in an ethics trial competition in California.
Fordham Law finished with two teams in the “final four” among the 16-team American Association for Justice’s Regional Trial Advocacy Competition on March 13 in Brooklyn. Such a feat has only happened three or four times over the past two decades, noted Brendan Moore Chair in Advocacy James Kainen, adding the Moores enter more than one team in a maximum of three competitions each year.
Coached by Moore alumni Brittany Russell ’13 and Michael Hardin ’14, the 2L team of Marjorie Dugan, Brianna Gallo, Claire Huynh, and Alexandra Oliver advanced to the Brooklyn competition’s final round. Meanwhile, the 2L team of Vinh Hua, Anthony Odorisi, Kate Ross, and Edia Uko advanced to the semifinal round in the same competition. Moore alumni Cheryl Thill ’07 and Mike Higgins ’08 coached them.
Brendan Moore Advocates also reached the semifinals of the National Ethics Trial Competition sponsored by the University of Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law on March 17–19. The 2L team of Devavrat Chaudhary, Anthony Freeman, Gabriel Reale, and Jose Santana emerged from the preliminary rounds with a perfect record and the top seed among the 22 competing teams. Reza Rezvani and Brendan Moore alumnus Rishi Gupta ’13 coached the team.
“My experience on the ethics team this semester was truly something special. Few times in my life have I felt so proud to have been part of something,” said Santana. “I can honestly say that my trial advocacy experience this semester was one of the most rewarding and just plain fun experiences I have had.”
The team’s recent successes in Brooklyn and California follow other impressive spring 2016 results including a first-place finish at the National Civil Mock Trial Competition at Florida State University College of Law; a “final four” appearance at Capitol City Challenge Mock Trial at American University’s Washington College of Law; and a semifinal performance at the New York Region Trial Competition sponsored by Texas Young Lawyers Association and the American College of Trial Lawyers.
“The bottom line is it’s a fabulous program and everything is working,” Kainen said, crediting the participating students for their hard work and thorough preparation.
The Brendan Moore Advocates will next compete in the 14-team Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition in San Juan on April 9–10. Co-sponsored by George Washington University School of Law, the event is the only federal civil mock trial event in Puerto Rico.
The Moores will also compete in the intraschool William M. Tendy Federal Criminal Trial Advocacy Competition in April. The 12-team event, comprised of 24 Fordham Law students, will hold its final at 6 p.m. on April 11 in Fordham Law’s Gorman Moot Courtroom.