News & Events

Moritz Colley Competition Winners Announced

March 18, 2009

Contact: Barbara Peck, (614) 292-0283

Two Moritz 3Ls were named champions of the 2009 Michael Colley Trial Skills Competition on March 15. Jason Beehler, of Indianapolis, and Matt Johnson, of Powell, Ohio, were first-place finishers. 2Ls Sarah Grimm, of Columbus, and James Marra, of Getzville, N.Y., finished in second place.

"The competitors in the final were outstanding,” said Anne Doyle, director of the Moot Court and Lawyering Skills Program. “The judges stated that their decision was extremely close. The judges were very impressed by the competitors’ poise and skill. I want to thank 2L Orlie Benjamin who did a great job coordinating the event, and special thanks to the witnesses."

Beehler is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree from Anderson University. Grimm graduated from The Ohio State University and Marra earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester.

The three-day event included 18 second- and third-year Moritz law students. The March 13 first-round arguments took place at the U.S. District Courthouse in downtown Columbus. More than 20 local practitioners and trial judges volunteered to judge the students. In the March 15 final round, judging the students were Judge Pat Sheeran of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and Judge Ted Barrows of Franklin County Municipal Court.

The Michael Colley Trial Skills Competition is an intra-school competition showcasing students’ ability to try a case in an adversarial courtroom setting. These teams had the opportunity to conduct a full trial, examining witnesses, as well as making opening and closing statements.

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