The School of Law is celebrating the success of its mock trial teams, which are advancing to national competitions following victories at the regional level.
The law school’s Jonathan M. Ault Mock Trial Program is sending two teams to the national championship of the National Trial Competition in Fort Worth, Texas, March 30–April 3. The team earned its top spots after competing in a virtual tournament at the Midwest Regional Competition Feb. 2–4.
This marks the third time in the past six years that CWRU law teams competed in this national championship, and the first time it swept the top two positions in the regional.
The two CWRU teams consist of: Athavan Balendran (3L), Elena Gutbrod (3L) and Andrew Thompson (2L); and Maddie Kelley (3L), Jake Doerr (3L) and Dave Walters (2L).
Also in February, two teams from the law school’s Black Law Student Association (BLSA) are headed to the 2022 National BLSA Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition in Memphis, Tennessee, March 16–20. They are advancing following outstanding performances at the Midwest qualifying rounds, which took place in St. Louis, Missouri, Feb. 2–4.
CWRU BLSA Team Blue, composed of Makela Hayford (3L), Nadia Haile (3L), Sally Enoh (3L) and Francesca Veres (1L), finished second overall. CWRU BLSA Team White, composed of Ryn Wayman (1L), Magda Phillips (2L), Aanya Myrie-Silburn (1L) and Marleni Chavana (1L), came in fourth. Team alternates are Akua Oppong (1L) and Heavenly Aguilar (1L).
Hayford was honored as Best Advocate for the Midwest Region for the second year in a row.