Students in Prof. Knudsen's Civil Procedure class present mock oral arguments before Judge Kennedy

Judge Kennedy (far right) listens to student Rachel Gulanes (at podium) present her case.

Prof. Kristin Knudsen, J.D., M.L.S., Justice Center Legal Studies faculty, recently held mock oral arguments in her Legal 367 - Civil Procedure and PreTrial Practice course   Students were given an actual pending U.S. Supreme Court case which they then researched to determine what issues arose at the U.S. District Court level that prompted an appeal. Their mock oral arguments replicated the proceedings at the U.S. District Court.

Students presented their arguments before Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge Christopher Kennedy of the Alaska Office of Administrative Hearings. Judge Kennedy commented on the presentations, but stated he would take the arguments "under advisement."

Prior to the oral arguments, students heard a presentation on oral argument preparation from attorneys Martha Tansik with the law firm Burr, Pease & Kurtz, and Adam Sadoski with the law firm of Holmes Weddle & Barcott. The attorneys discussed how to structure an oral argument, how to present the information, and courtroom etiquette.

Front row l to r: students I. Lopez, A. Lena, S. Smith, R. Gulanes, K. Alleley, Prof. Knudsen,
students E. Blanas, A. Preuit, and S. Ham.
Back row l to r: students D. Harrison, P. Frank, J. Schindler, R. Greer, Judge Kennedy,
students M. Notti, B. Steward, N. Sims, and K. Liss