November 23, 2015
In the William W. Daniel National Invitational Mock Trial Competition in Atlanta — which accepts only 18 teams from across the country — St. Mary’s Law students took home the national championship. The defense team of third-year law student Thomas Pare, third-year law student Alex Hilliard, second-year law student Richard Dutchover and second-year law student Nathan Janis beat Michigan State in the semifinals to move on to the final round. During the final round, the prosecution team of third-year law student John Duff, third-year law student Orlando Garcia, second-year law student Eric Meza and third-year law student Thomas Pare defeated a formidable team from South Carolina. Nicole Thornbro coached these St. Mary’s advocates to success.
Two more St Mary’s mock trial teams competed in the regional American Bar Association’s Section of Labor and Employment Law Student Trial Advocacy Competition in Dallas. Both teams made it to the semifinals, and the team of second-year law student Eric Botello, third-year law student Dominic Selvera, second-year law student Charli Kilpatrick and third-year law student Jim Mattox advanced to the tournament finals and defeated the South Texas College of Law team. Joshua Sandoval coached the team, which will move on to the national tournament in January.