Spring 2018 Gavel Final Spring 2018 Gavel | Page 8

A student from the University
of Iowa College of Law delivers
an opening statement during
one of the preliminary rounds.
The University of Kansas School of Law, which also advanced
to the national rounds in Texas, with North Dakota Supreme
Court Justice Lisa Fair McEvers. Justice McEvers presided
over that final trial.
students’ advocacy skills to the test. As the students delivered opening
statements and closing arguments, examined witnesses, and argued
evidentiary issues, members of the North Dakota bench and bar
either presided over each trial or assumed the role of jurors. The
presiding judges had the responsibility of conducting the round and
making the evidentiary rulings during the trial. In addition to the
presiding judge, each round had three other attorneys who served
as scoring judges. Through the lens of jurors, these attorneys scored
the student advocates to determine the winning team of each round.
The points earned during the preliminary rounds determined which
teams advanced to the semi-final rounds on Sunday morning.
After two long days of competition, eight teams, including one of
UND’s teams, advanced to the semi-final rounds. In the semi-finals,
the UND School of Law team faced the team from the University
of Minnesota Law School–the team that would go on to become
the overall champion of the competition. The UND Law students
competed fearlessly and represented our law school and state with
distinction, losing the round by the narrowest of margins (2:1 in
judges’ ballots, losing one of the ballots by a single point). But having
the opportunity to compete against teams from top-tiered law
schools with nationally recognized trial advocacy programs, while
showcasing their skills before trial lawyers and judges from North
Dakota, was an experience UND Law students will always remember
fondly. As Hannah Wegner, a member of UND’s Trial Team, put it:
“I thought I knew how to work hard, until I joined trial team.
During my time on the team, I learned how to manage my time
more effectively, work more efficiently, and incorporate feedback
constructively. Knowing that members of the North Dakota bench
and bar would participate in the competition encouraged me to
work even harder. I wanted to make our bench and bar proud of
the UND Law team and show that we could keep up with the
bigger schools. I wanted to assure them that the next generation
of lawyers in North Dakota knows how to work hard and will
continue to cultivate a passion for trial advocacy in the future.”
The hard work and passion for trial advocacy that all student
advocates demonstrated throughout the competition was indeed
undeniable. Reflecting on the skills these student advocates displayed,
Judge Daniel Narum had this to say, “These young advocates are a
credit to their respective law schools, mentors, and coaches. In my
observation, all of these law students are ready for any courtroom.
The advocates were poised, prepared, polished, and professional. The
future looks bright for our profession.”
At the end, however, only two teams could advance to the 2018
National Trial Competition in Austin, Texas. After a final round
that was nothing short of a master demonstration of trial advocacy
skills, the two teams that moved on to the national rounds were the
University of Minnesota Law School and the University of Kansas
School of Law. The presiding judges in the final rounds were Judge
Ralph R. Erickson of the United States Court of Appeals for the
Eighth Circuit and Justice Lisa Fair McEvers of the North Dakota
Supreme Court. The scoring judges were Chief Justice Gerald
VandeWalle and Justices Daniel Crothers, Jerod Tufte, and Jon
Jensen of the North Dakota Supreme Court, along with United
States Magistrate Judge Alice Senechal and United States Magistrate
Judge (Retired) Karen Klein.
The support from our bench and bar was apparent to all. As Judge
Narum observed, “Where else do you get the entire Supreme
Court, federal bench,