Mercer University Law School wins the 2009 National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition. Federal Judge Charles P. Kocoras (N.D., IL) displays Mercer University Law School ’s First Place Award. Upper row (l. to r), are Ronald C. Smith, Competition Director; final round jurors Stephen Komie and Rosanne Faraci; Judge Kocoras, Mercer student Katie Powers (who won the Best Advocate and the Best Cross Examiner awards), and Mercer coach Rudjard Hayes. Front row (l. to r.): Mercer students Cayce Myers, Michael Lyles, and Joan McCallum.

Mercer University Law School ’s Katie Powers wins the Best Advocate Award (and the award for Best Cross Examination). (L. to r.) Competition Director Professor Ron Smith; Katie Powers; and the evaluators of the final round, Rosanne Faraci, Stephen Komie, and the presiding judge Hon. Charles P. Kocoras (N.D., IL).

Mercer Law School’s Katie Powers delivers the defense’s final argument. Ms. Powers won the best advocate award and the best cross-examiner award in the 2009 Competition.

The Finalist team from the University of Houston Law Center . Upper row (l. to r.): (evaluators) Stephen Komie and Rosanne J. Faraci; and federal Judge Charles P. Kocoras (N.D., IL) who presided over the final round; Houston Law students Sara Waller and Amanda Frase. Lower (l. to r.): faculty advisor Jackie Houlette; Houston Law students Lisa Stewart and Johnathan Hamilton.

Competition Director Ronald C. Smith: goes over the rules with the jurors of the championship round (l. to r.) Smith, Rosanne Faraci, Brendan Shiller, and Stephen Komie.

Judge Kocoras rules on motions in limine.

The advocates shake hands at the end of the trial.

Judge Charles P. Kocoras congratulates a Houston advocate.

Judge Charles P. Kocoras congratulates a Houston advocate.

Houston’s Sara Waller shows the jury a key exhibit during her final argument.

The Houston Law (prosecution) team.