BLSA Mock Trial Team Wins Western Regional Competition!
January 17, 2012
It’s a major accomplishment for TJSL’s Black Law Students Association Mock Trial Team.
They won the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition, held at the Western Regional BLSA conference in Seattle, January 11-15.
“We basically didn’t have a winter break because we worked so hard,” said team member 2L Ationette Scott.
On the first day of the competition, TJSL’s prosecution team of Eichelle Thomas 3L and Adeyinka Glover 2L defeated Seattle University Law School. Also on the first day, TJSL’s defense team of Scott and Christine Vacha 3L lost to UCLA – but they weren’t going to let that discourage them.
TJSL’s defense team came back on day two and defeated UNLV, then decided to take on the UCLA team they had already lost to in the finals.
“It was a team decision,” said Scott. “We felt confident we could beat them in a rematch.”
And beat them, they did!
By beating UCLA in the final, TJSL finished first in the competition ahead of Seattle and UCLA by a unanimous three-judge decision.
“It was very emotional for us when they announced the decision,” Scott said. “It was a good feeling for us – we are all very proud.”
BLSA wishes to thank their Coach, TJSL alumna Jennifer Caroll ’10 for all her hard work, along with adjunct Professors Randy Grossman, Judybeth Tropp and Judge Browder Willis ’83 for supporting and helping to coach the team.
Now, TJSL’s team will be going to the national BLSA Mock Trial competition in Washington, D.C., coming up this March.
“This victory validates all the hard work and sacrifices I made to compete,” said team member Adeyinka Glover. “I feel like I have positively represented my school and I look forward to competing at Nationals in March.”
“We will practice hard, do our best,” said Scott, “and hopefully come back with another award from nationals.”
“We are incredibly proud of these talented orators and send them on to the national competition with all our best wishes and support,” said Beth Kransberger, Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
Congratulations to the BLSA Mock Trial Team!