Eighteen Law Schools to Compete in Annual Capital City Challenge Mock Trial Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC, March 17, 2011 – American University Washington College of Law Stephen S. Weinstein Trial Advocacy Program and Mock Trial Honor Society will host the third annual Capitol City Challenge Mock Trial Competition at the District of Columbia Superior Court on March 19 and 20. 

An evening welcome reception for the competitors and coaches will be held at the law school on March 18.  At the welcome reception, teams will participate in a challenge ceremony that will enable them to challenge opposing law schools to first round competition.

Competitors will be evaluated and critiqued by trial practitioners and prominent judges, including Chief Judge Eugene Hamilton, Chief Judge William Cave, Judge Erik Christian, and Judge Nelson Rupp, Jr., Judge Michael Farrell and Judge Audrey Creighton.  Also serving as judges, is a balanced group of prosecutors and public defenders.  Maryland’s Chief Deputy Attorney General will serve as an evaluator for the final round.

The eighteen law schools competing in this competition will vie for the Capitol City Challenge trophy and the winning team will also have their names placed on the perpetual championship trophy that is on display at American University Washington College of Law.

The Capitol City Challenge encourages the student advocates to use the modern courtroom technology in the presentation of their cases.  Courtroom technology will be available to all of the competitors at the courthouse. 

The Capitol City Challenge is another commitment from the American University Washington College of Law community to help students become better advocates in and outside of the courtroom.  With the help of alumni, faculty and students, this competition should be a success in this, its third year, and in the years to come.

 When: March 19 and March 20, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
             Final round, March 20, 2 - 5 p.m.

Where: American University Washington College of Law – Room 603
             4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20016

            District of Columbia Superior Court
             500 Indiana Ave NW
             Washington, DC 20001

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American University Washington College of Law

In 1896, American University Washington College of Law became the first law school in the country founded by women. More than 100 years since its founding, this law school community is grounded in the values of equality, diversity, and intellectual rigor. The law school’s nationally and internationally recognized programs (in clinical legal education, trial advocacy, international law, and intellectual property to name a few) and dedicated faculty provide its 1700 JD, LL.M., and SJD students with the critical skills and values to have an immediate impact as students and as graduates, in Washington, DC and around the world. For more information, visit wcl.american.edu.