THOMAS JEFFERSON NATIONAL MOCK TRIAL TEAM WINS TYLA REGIONAL COMPETITION
February 20, 2013
Tucson, AZ. (February 17, 2013) – For the first time in school history, the TJSL National Trial Team won the 2013 regional competition of Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) in Tucson, AZ this past weekend. Coached by Lilys McCoy and Lea Fields-Bernard, teammates Robert Sagerian, Jay B Campbell and Michael Fabinski will compete in the national round of TYLA April 3-7, 2011 in San Antonio, TX.
After defeating Western State, Pepperdine, Loyola Maramount, and a second bout with Pepperdine, Robert Sagerian, Jay B Campbell and Michael Fabinski were crowned champions of Region 14.
The TYLA regional competition included 28 teams from Southern California, Arizona, and Hawaii. The TJSL team competed in five trials against Western State, Pepperdine and Loyola Maramount over the course of four days before being crowned Regional Champions. The TJSL team never lost a round and received the highest point total of all the teams.
The regional problem was a fictitious case titled, State of Lone Star v. John Quincy Drath. The State charged Mr. Drath with one count of murder for the death of Steppen Walker. The State intended to prove that John Drath killed Steppen Walker out of anger after discovering that Mr. Walker, 22, was involved in sexual relationship with Mr. Drath’s 17-year-old daughter, Sally Drath. Mr. Drath asserted the affirmative defense of insanity after he awoke in a jail cell eight days after Mr. Walker was killed, having no recollection of the previous eight days.
“This is a remarkable achievement for our team and our law school. There has been so much support from the student body, the administration and members of the San Diego legal community leading up to this competition. For that, I would like to thank everyone that was part of the preparation process because your assistance was instrumental to our success,” says Robert Sagerian, TJSL’s team captain.
About the Texas Young Lawyers Association’s National Trial Competition
The National Trial Competition was established in 1975 to encourage and strengthen students’ advocacy skills through quality competition and valuable interaction with members of the bench and bar. The program is designed to expose law students to the nature of trial practice and to serve as a supplement to their education. It is the Texas Young Lawyers Association intent to provide a meaningful contribution to the development of future trial lawyers. The top two winners of the 14 regional competitions will compete in the National Competition April 3-7, 2013 in San Antonio, TX.