UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS LAW STUDENTS WIN BEST BRIEF IN REGIONAL MOOT COURT COMPETITION

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -Third-year School of Law students Shawn Johnson and LaRena Casey, both from Fort Smith, Ark., took the First Place Brief Award in the Region IX Rounds of the National Moot Court Competition held Nov. 21-22 in Omaha, Neb.

The UA team's regional competition was also marked by a perfect record in preliminary rounds, matching Johnson and Casey in a quarterfinal power round with the second-place brief winners from the University of Nebraska. In preliminary competition, Johnson and Casey defeated two teams from the University of Missouri at Columbia, one by a 40-point margin.

Johnson and Casey were coached by Professor Kathryn A. Sampson, associate clinical professor in the School's legal research and writing program. They enjoyed significant university support, including practice-round judging from UA law faculty members John J. Watkins, Steve Sheppard, Terry Jean Seligmann, Kim Coats and consultation with Mark Killenbeck, Wylie H. Davis Professor of Law, and Donald P. Judges, Ben J. Altheimer Professor of Legal Advocacy.

"The competition rules did not allow faculty assistance on the brief writing part of the competition," Sampson said. "Thus, Shawn and LaRena won the best brief award on their own merit."

The Johnson/Casey best brief award marks the third time since 1998 that a UA team has taken the best brief award in the National Moot Court Competition, which is sponsored by the Bar of the City of New York. In 1997-98, Charity Elmer, Chris Averitt and Eva Madison won the brief writing competition, as did Caroline Curry and Kim McMillen in 2001-02.

Casey and Johnson competed in the brief-writing competition during the months of September and October. The two researched and wrote a 40-page brief. Half of the argument was devoted to analysis of a Trademark Infringement Claim and was written and argued by Casey. The other half of the argument was devoted to analysis of a state corporate speech law that implicated a First Amendment challenge. This latter portion was written and argued by Johnson.

The students also participated in an oral argument competition on Nov. 21-22, which required Casey and Johnson to develop arguments both on behalf of the minor corporate plaintiff/petitioner and on behalf of a large corporate defendant/respondent. They competed in a field of 16 teams from Arkansas, Kansas and Nebraska at Creighton University School of Law.

Comments from judges after Casey and Johnson completed their oral arguments included: "Excellent speaking style;" "I have nothing but praise for you;" "You guys are outstanding;" and "The best round that I've ever judged."

The UA team bowed out of the tournament in the quarterfinals after a .6 loss to the University of Nebraska. Notably, after losing that round, the Casey and Johnson received specific and generous praise from the University of Nebraska coach, who expressed his admiration for, and belief in, a UA victory in the round.

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