1Ls win Greenhalgh Mock Trial Tournament

Photos by Brad Kehr, 2L. Contestants Tuminelli, on left, and Guptil, on right, debate motions in limine.First-year students Amanda Tuminelli and Neal Shechter have won the 2011 Greenhalgh Mock Trial Tournament. The annual competition, an intramural qualifying tournament for students who wish to join the Trial Advocacy Division of Barristers’ Council, began three weeks ago with nearly two hundred contestants and culminated in a Feb. 17 championship round with four remaining contenders.

Tuminelli and Shechter argued the defense side of the case, which was held in the Supreme Court Institute Moot Courtroom and judged by four practicing attorneys. The runners-up were Ryan Guptill and Elizabeth Strickland.

The case centered around the fictional Robert Duffey, a convenience store employee accused of murdering his co-workers and stealing $6,000 from a locked safe. Prosecutors Guptil and Strickland argued that Duffey, “desperate” to pay his overdue rent and avoid eviction, was guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of robbery.

Defense attorneys Tuminelli and Shechter countered that the prosecution’s case suffered from unanswered questions giving rise to reasonable doubt.

After a three-hour trial, the competition directors tabulated the judges’ ballots while the five-member jury announced a unanimous not guilty verdict. Greenhalgh Director Mike Kawi, 2L, then announced that the judges had also chosen Tuminelli and Shechter as competition victors.

The round was judged by DC Supeior Court Judge Michael Ryan, Paul Weiss partner and former federal prosecutor Beth Wilkinson, DC Law Students in Court attorney Dorene Haney, and Amy Jaquette, an Assistant U.S. Attorney and coach for Georgetown Law's Trial Advocacy Division. Three of the four final round judges.

In post-trial comments, the judges praised all the contestants. Judge Ryan, the presiding judge, expressed surprise that the students were only one year into law school and said, “You were all hitting them over the park while many [real-life attorneys] I see bunt.”

Director Kawi agreed with the judges, commenting to the Law Weekly, "I was particularly impressed by the competitors' ability to adapt and improve both within and in between rounds. There are many good advocates in Trial Advocacy programs around the country, but what makes a great advocate is the ability to remain composed and effective when the situation changes from what they expected."

He added, "In a mock trial, as competitors move from round to round, the judges and witnesses change; this means that rulings on evidence, witness language, and opposing counsels theories and themes were constantly changing.  This is how we simulate the unpredictability of actual trials.  Judges who came back to judge multiple rounds all noticed that teams who they critiqued earlier had taken their advice and improved even in the short time between rounds."

However, some judges did offer criticism, particularly of the examinations. Multiple judges said that cross-examining attorneys made the mistake of asking one too many questions, thereby allowing witnesses to wiggle out of incriminating or contradictory testimony.

Wilkinson also joked about the case packet, saying that the prosecution faced an almost insurmountable battle because of the available evidence, or lackthereof. Wilkinson joked that she would have never given the prosecution a conviction—despite working as a federal prosecutor for years.

Greenhalgh Director Mike KawiStill, the judges were overwhelmingly positive about the contestants. Wilkinson commended the defense, saying they were “thematically consistent and clear.”

“It is amazing how skilled you were,” Wilkinson said of all the contestants, adding that they were “far ahead of very senior people” she had seen. “It was very, very impressive. I hope you don’t lose the skills you have.”

Guptill, attorney for the prosecution, commended his opponents and teammates. "I was deeply impressed by the depth of talent we saw throughout the Greenhalgh competition. From what I saw, the Trial Advocacy Division is in for a influx of highly skilled and powerfully talented advocates. Amanda and Neal, our opponents in the final round, had absolutely superb trial advocacy technique from opening statements all the way through to closing arguments."

Guptill added, "I am also in awe of my partner, Elizabeth Strickland, who, despite having no previous trial advocacy experience, put on an awesome performance, displaying a natural talent for advocacy and a keen insight in to what makes an effective trial presentation."

Tuminelli, competition winner and attorney for the defense, said, "Since Greenhalgh gave us the opportunity to argue in a courtroom, for me it affirmed that I want to be a litigator. I know the general consensus among the competitors was that we all want to spend as much time in a courtroom as possible in the future. We were really grateful to be judged by the attorneys and judges that showed up to the final round because all of them have impressive backgrounds in advocacy and they all had helpful critiques for us."

Her co-counsel, Shechter, said of the tournament, "I thought the competition was very well-run and well-organized and it was a lot of fun to participate in. However, it was a lot of work to do on top of the normal coursework and classes, so it is good to be finished."

Kawi expressed satisfaction with the tournament and its results.

"This year's competition was a complete success," he said, adding, "The spring semester is busy for any law student, but is particularly grueling for 1Ls.  For the competitors to perform at such a high level with so many other responsibilities is truly impressive." 

In total, 180 students registered for the competition and 24 of those students, including the Greenhalgh finals, have received invitiations to join the Trial Advocacy Division.

"The success of the competition bodes well for the Division's success next year," Kawi said. "If this is what our members can do in only a few days, with no coach and minimal training, then I feel sorry for anyone who finds out that they are up against Georgetown next year."

All photos by Brad Kehr, 2L.