Prof. Fortson's LEGL 487 students present mock oral arguments to Alaska Court of Appeals Judge Robert Coats (Ret.)

Judge Coats (on left behind podium) and Prof. Fortson (on right behind podium) pose for a photo with the
first and second student teams before the mock proceedings begin - (l to r) students Cheng Vang, Paige Pirie, Abby Charles,
Jennifer McGuffey, Estelita Mayac, Benjamin Dunaway, and Marcus Phang.

Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., Ph.D., Justice Center Legal Studies faculty, held mock oral arguments in his Legal 487 - Trial and Advanced Litigation Processes course as the final project of the 2014 fall 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 Robert Coats (Ret.) 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 Coats. Earlier in the semester, the students also participated in a simulated trial, conducting opening statements, direct and cross examinations, and closing arguments.

The first team presents (l to r): Paige Pirie, Jennifer McGuffey,
Cheng Vang, and Alicia Steere.

Team 2 begins their oral arguments (l to r): Caroline Lee,
Abby Charles, and Estelita Mayac.

The last team readies for oral argument (l to r): Jory Knott,
Alysha Shaginoff, Marcus Phang, Benjamin Dunaway.

Judge Coats (center) asks a question of Cheng Vang ( at podium),
while his co-counsel Alicia Steere (r) and Prof. Fortson (far left) listen.