Prof. Fortson's LEGL 487 students present mock oral arguments to U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin McCoy

Students take a moment before mock proceedings begin to pose for a photo with Prof. Fortson (center) and
U.S. Magistrate Judge McCoy (to right of Prof. Fortson) - students (l to r) Erin Leaders, Nathael Sims, Case Mohr, James Schindler,
Kimberly Allely. Students not pictured: Dawn Harrison, Elizabeth Blanas, Tina Isbell, Brandon Clark.

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 2015 fall semester.  Students participated in a  moot court  - a mock 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 U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin McCoy with the U.S. District Court for the State of Alaska who rendered a decision after each case was presented.

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