First Year Moot Court Finalists: Angela Petrova, Dan Riffle, Larry Serbin and Shayla Werner

January 27, 2006

Congratulations to first year students Angela Petrova, Dan Riffle, Larry Serbin and Shayla Werner. They competed in the final round of the First Year Moot Court Competition on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the U.S. District Courthouse in the Honorable Judge Algenon Marbley’s courtroom. The team of Serbin and Riffle, who argued on behalf of the respondents in the mock case Richard D. Midwell, et. Al., v. Jack Peta, prevailed. Riffle was named Outstanding Oralist.

The competition’s problem case involved a First Amendment question concerning a rib festival held on school property. The participants were asked to argue to the issues of whether the ribfest was a school sponsored or a school tolerated activity and if the school can restrict speech based on viewpoint or if it must be viewpoint neutral.

The final round was judged by the Honorable Judge Algenon L. Marbley, H’00, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Attorney Timothy J. Boone, L’76, who is an adjunct professor at Capital teaching Trial Advocacy, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Shirley Mays and Professor Charles E. Cohen.

Each of the judges commented on the stellar performances and advocacy skills of the students. They were impressed with their knowledge of the issues and case law they presented. The students were peppered with questions throughout their arguments, yet responded knowledgably and quickly, and demonstrated much confidence.

The competition was run by the Capital University Law School Moot Court Board and sponsored by the law firm of Lane Alton and Horst, LLC. Twenty-eight teams competed in this year’s competition.