Law School Students Win Regional Trial Competition

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Clay Fowlkes and Raney English, both from Jonesboro and third-year students at the University of Arkansas School of Law, captured the National Trial Competition Regional Tournament at the University of Missouri in Columbia, becoming the first team in school history to accomplish the feat.

A total of 18 two-person teams competed in the event, including third-year students Blake Rutherford and Drew Ledbetter. Rutherford, of Little Rock and Ledbetter, of Checotah, Okla., advanced to the final round where they were defeated narrowly by a team from the University of Iowa. This marked the first time in school history that both teams from the school advanced to the final rounds of the competition. Fowlkes and English defeated a team from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock in the final rounds to give the state three entrants among the final four.

Lance Wright, a second-year student from Quitman, served as alternate on the Rutherford-Ledbetter team.  Jessica Middleton, a second year student from Blytheville, was alternate for English-Fowlkes. Professor Mike Mullane and Fourth Judicial Circuit Judge Mary Ann Gunn coached the teams.

"The success of our teams is due in large part to the support we have received from the Board of Advocates, the dozens of classmates, friends and family who volunteered to play witnesses and the Hon. Mary Ann Gunn who gave unstintingly of her time as a volunteer coach, not to mention the donors who provide the financial support that makes our participation possible," said Mullane.

Fowlkes and English, along with alternate Middleton, will join the Iowa team at the National Trial Competition, March 27-30 in Houston.

The University of Arkansas School of Law traveling competition teams are the product of a comprehensive advocacy skills development program conducted by the student-run Board of Advocates. The program includes intramural and interscholastic competitions in trial advocacy, appellate advocacy, negotiations and client counseling. Professor Kim Coats oversees the intramural trial competition.

"This program, thanks to the huge investment of time, energy, and other resources by everyone concerned, gives a large number of our students an opportunity to get hands-on trial experience and provides the foundation for our traveling teams," said Donald P. Judges, Ben J. Altheimer Professor of Legal Advocacy and faculty advisor of the Advocacy Skills Program. "Sending a team to the nationals in this competition is a signal honor for our advocacy skills programs."