Congratulations to Baylor University School of Law, first place winner of AAJ’s 2007 National Student Trial Advocacy Competition! Law students Danny Back (3L), Josh Hedrick (3L), Dan Stokes (2L), and James Williams (2L), coached by assistant law professor Jim Wren, beat out 15 other teams to take home the first prize award.

Left to right: Josh Hedrick (attorney), Danny Back (attorney), Jim Wren (faculty coach), Lauren Davis (evidence coach), James Williams (witness), Dan Stokes (witness).

Hosted by Maria Glorioso of The Glorioso Law Firm based in New Orleans, AAJ’s STAC, the premier civil trial competition in the country, welcomed 16 teams to New Orleans during the weekend of March 29 thru April 1 to battle it out during the finals. The members of the winning team from Baylor University and their coach Jim Wren, will receive an all expenses-paid trip to the AAJ Annual Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

With tremendous assistance from AAJ members, the competition began with 250 teams from 140 law schools competing in 14 regional competitions. During the regional competitions, each team must compete in three qualifying rounds. Four teams are chosen to advance to a single elimination semi-final round based on the following criteria: (1) win/loss record, (2) number of winning votes, and (3) number of total points. The winners from each region received an invitation to compete in the finals in New Orleans.

This year’s regional winners were Georgia State University, Valparaiso School of Law, Baylor University School of Law, Syracuse University College of Law, South Texas College of Law, Tulane University Law School, California Western School of Law, Barry University of Orlando School of Law, Samford University – Cumberland School of Law, University of Alabama School of Law, Brooklyn Law School, Temple University School of Law, Pepperdine University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, University of Maryland School of Law, and Case Western Reserve University

AAJ’s STAC cases are always civil cases and tend to deal with products liability, personal injury, and medical malpractice/negligence concerns. The competing teams were judged on their trial advocacy skills including opening statements, use of the facts, and the examination of witnesses and closing arguments. On each team of four students, two act as advocates and two as witnesses. Since each team must be prepared to represent both the plaintiff and the defendant, the roles within a team may switch from trial to trial. AAJ members, as well as attorneys and distinguished members of the bench from the New Orleans area served as judges and jury for the truck collision case of Pat Johnson v. Keep on Trucking Company. After the qualifying and quarter-final rounds, four teams were chosen to compete in the semi-final round. This year’s semi-finalists were Baylor University, Tulane University, Syracuse University, and Temple University. At the completion of the semi-final round, a winner was chosen from one of two teams advancing to the final round. Baylor University and Syracuse University then went head to head in the final round.

Thanks to all the teams for a fantastic weekend of competitions!