The University of Alabama School of Law won the Case Classic Mock Trial Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio, for the first time, successfully ending a Harvard Law’s three-year winning streak.
The winning team of 3Ls Anna Jay and Loren Reese and 2Ls Nick Thoma and Dawson Fischer defeated 25 teams from 14 law schools across the nation, including Harvard, Vanderbilt, and Tulane.
The team won all nine ballots across the first three rounds, entering the semifinals as the number one seed with an impressive 84-point lead. They swept the semifinal round and secured two of three ballots in the final round—winning the Case Classic Tournament for Alabama Law. Additionally, Nick Thoma was named Best Advocate in the final two rounds.
The second Alabama Law team of 3Ls Alexa Brodsky and Hannah Palmer and 2Ls Brianna Byrd and Gentry Patterson split the first two rounds and unanimously won the third round but did not advance to the semifinals.
The teams were coached by Professor Yuri Linetsky with support from Professors Steve Emens and Gary Sullivan.
Every year, the Alabama Law Trial Advocacy Program, led by Professor Gary Sullivan, sends scores of teams to competitions across the country. Continue reading to learn more about how Alabama Law students have performed in competitions so far this year, with more to come next semester.
HGD Closing Argument Competition
At the HGD Closing Argument Competition, hosted by Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC, Alabama Law students claimed first and second place. 3L Kennedy Freeman took first place and 2L Tykeisa Nesbitt took second place among a field of eight law students from Birmingham-area law schools.
National Trial Advocacy Competition
In late October, 3Ls Justin Heydt, Emily Schulze, Libby Pinkelton, and Paul Doherty competed in the State Bar of Michigan’s Young Lawyer Section’s National Trial Advocacy Competition in Detroit, Michigan. The team won two of three rounds, winning all three ballots in their final round to finish with a positive 5-4 ballot total. The advocates were commended on their ability to respond to objections, their professionalism, and creativity in trying the case.
The team was coached by veteran trial lawyer Larry Canada (‘86) with support from Professors Gary Sullivan and Steve Emens, Assistant U.S. Attorney William McComb (‘08), Tuscaloosa Assistant Public Defendant Houston Harrison, and litigation associates Isabella Ragsdale (‘25) and Daniel Hall (‘25).
Buffalo-Niagara Trial Advocacy Competition
Six Alabama Law students—3Ls Liz Portis, Madison Lowe, and Leif Nuesken and 2Ls Yanni Mazza, Josh Carter, and Zion Lewis—traveled to Buffalo, New York, to compete in the Buffalo-Niagara Trial Advocacy Competition.
The group performed well in the first four rounds of competition, with Elizabeth and Yanni sweeping the ballots in the third round. The scoring was tight, and the teams did not ultimately land one of the four coveted spots in the finals.
The team was coached by Professor Beth Crutchfield with support from Professors Gary Sullivan, Susan Donovan, and Jenny Ryan, along with Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hays Webb ('97) and Assistant District Attorney Ashley Ross ('19).