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| Front row l to r: Doanh Tran, Tonia Glen, Joelle Davis, Amber Evans, Rebecca Noblin (volunteer lawyer), Robbin Smith. Back row l to r: Carina Uraiqat (volunteer lawyer), B.J. Lapham, Lauren Nelson, Marika Athens (volunteer lawyer), Phillip Parmenter, Prof. Jason Brandeis. |
Prof. Jason Brandeis, J.D., Justice faculty, held the second session of mock trial arguments in his Justice 344 "Courts and Civil Liberties" course on Wednesday, November 30. A moot court is a mock appellate court proceeding which involves the
presentation of oral argument before a panel of judges. Students are
divided into teams and prepare arguments for hypothetical cases. Their
arguments are then presented before a panel of judges (including Prof.
Brandeis) composed of lawyer volunteers. Rebecca Noblin, Alaska Director, Center for Biological Diversity; Carina Uraiqat, Assistant District Attorney, Alaska Department of Law; and Marika Athens, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Special Prosecutions and Appeals - Special Prosecutions Unit, Alaska Department of Law, participated as judges for this session.
The judges pose questions to the students and evaluate their
presentation. The hypothetical cases address such issues as alternative
criminal sentencing, the establishment clause (separation of church and
state), student free speech rights, second amendment right to bear arms,
privacy and technology issues, free speech and political protest, and
equal rights and protection from discrimination based on sexual
orientation.
Mock oral arguments will continue next week with different lawyer volunteers as judges.
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| Student Amber Evans presents her argument. | | |
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| L to r: Prof. Brandeis and volunteer lawyers Marika Athens, Rebecca Noblin, and Carina Uraiqat share some judicial humor before the mock oral arguments begin. |
