Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Prof. Fortson volunteers as trial judge for 2013 statewide high school mock trial competition

Prof. Fortson, as presiding judge, listens to arguments.
Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., Justice faculty, volunteered to act as a presiding judge at the recent statewide 2013 Alaska High School Mock Trial Competition in Anchorage at the Boney Courthouse.  The competition is sponsored by the Young Lawyers Section of the Anchorage Bar Association and the Law Related Education Committee of the Alaska Bar Association.

L to r: Volunteer lawyer coordinators Kimberly Tsaousis, Office of
Public Advocacy; and Lars Johnson, Alaska Public Defender Agency.
Seven schools from Southeast Alaska up through the Interior fielded 8 teams for the event. The West High School team of Anchorage prevailed and will go on to compete in the National High School Mock Trial Competition in Indianapolis in May.

Over 40 lawyers, judges, and individuals in court-related occupations volunteered to assist with the event. Coordinators for the competition were volunteer lawyers Lars Johnson, Alaska Public Defender Agency, and Kimberly Tsaousis, Office of Public Advocacy.