Prof. Fortson's JUST 487 students present mock oral arguments to Alaska Court of Appeals Judge Mannheimer

Before oral argument.  Front row l to r: Reginald Silvernail, Rebecca Hartley,
Stacy Wilson, Judith Stefchak, Jamaar Brown. Back row l to r: Simona Gerdts, Kayla Wilke, William Honeycutt,
Judge David Mannheimer, Prof. Ryan Fortson, Joshua Spring. Not pictured: Abbie Lawley.

Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., Ph.D., Justice Center Legal Studies faculty, held mock oral arguments in his Justice 487 - Trial and Advanced Litigation Processes course as the final project of the 2014 spring semester.  Students participated in a  moot court  - a mock appellate court proceeding which involves the presentation of oral argument before a judge or a panel of judges.

Students prepared arguments for two hypothetical cases.  Their arguments were presented before Alaska Court of Appeals Judge David Mannheimer who rendered a decision after each case was presented.

Prior to the oral arguments, students prepared briefs on their cases and submitted them to their opposing counsel team and to Prof. Fortson and Judge Mannheimer. Earlier in the semester, the students also participated in a simulated trial, conducting opening statements, direct and cross examinations, and closing arguments.