Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law wins Two Regional Championships in the National Trial Competition
February 11, 2008 – Orlando, Florida
In its second appearance in the regional rounds of the prestigious National Trial Competition in Orlando, Florida last weekend, two teams from Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law swept the region’s two regional championships with undefeated records to advance to the national finals in Austin, Texas at the end of March.
The National Trial Competition, jointly sponsored by the American College of Trial Advocates and the Texas Young Lawyers Association, involves approximately 1000 law students annually from law schools around the country. Competitors in the tournament prepare a simulated case file for trial and present their case to a scoring jury. The jurors, who are all practicing attorneys and judges, evaluate the advocates on their ability to present and argue pre-trial motions, deliver opening statements and closing arguments and conduct direct and cross examinations of witnesses. The national finalists now move on to compete for $15,000 and the title of National Trial Champions in Austin, Texas later this spring.
Faulkner sent two teams to the NTC regional competition last weekend. They competed against twenty-two other teams from ABA approved law schools in Florida, Mississippi and Alabama. Third-year Faulkner law students Matthew Griffith and J. Parker Miller defeated two teams from Stetson as well as teams from Florida Coastal and Cumberland to capture one of the regional championship titles. Third-year Faulkner law students Michele Gooslin and Brad Griffin defeated teams from Nova Southeastern, the University of Florida, the University of Alabama and Cumberland School of Law to capture the region’s other championship title and advance to the national finals.
Professor Joe Lester teaches trial advocacy at Faulkner and also coached the two teams. “I am extremely proud of our teams,” he said, “they navigated through a very difficult draw against Stetson, Alabama, Cumberland and many other prestigious trial programs and did not lose a round.” Last year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Stetson’s trial advocacy program first in the nation. Faulkner defeated Stetson twice last weekend. “Their performance under such pressure is a testament to the talent of the four team members.”
“What an outstanding accomplishment,” said Professor Robert McFarland, Associate Professor of Law and Director of Advocacy Programs at Faulkner. “Our students are consistently demonstrating their ability as advocates in competitions around the country.” Faulkner’s victory in Orlando comes two-weeks after Faulkner captured the regional championship in the southern region of the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition. Earlier this year Matt Bell, a third-year Faulkner student, was named the Best Oral Advocate in the regional rounds of the National Moot Court competition at Vanderbilt University School of Law. Faulkner also advanced to the national semi-final round in the Buffalo-Niagara national trial competition last fall.
Matthew Griffith, one of the team members, said “In law school the chance to travel to Austin and compete for the national trial championship is about as close as we get to a BCS bid. I’m looking forward to competing against the nation’s best advocates in Austin and letting people know what a great advocacy program we have at Jones.”
Matthew Griffith’s hometown is Anniston, Alabama and he graduated from Auburn University. J. Parker Miller’s hometown is Faunsdale, Alabama and he graduated from Auburn University. Michele Gooslin’s hometown is Phelps, Kentucky and she graduated from Pikeville College. Brad Griffin’s hometown is Monroeville, Alabama and he graduated from the University of Alabama. The two teams will compete for the national title in Austin, Texas on March 26th through the 29th.
For more information regarding Faulkner’s advocacy programs please contact Professor Robert McFarland, Director of Advocacy Programs, at 334-386-7549.