FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 4, 2005

CONTACT:Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu

DRAKE NATIONAL MOOT COURT TEAM PLACES SECOND IN NATION

The Drake Law School National Moot Court Team won second place in the National Moot Court Competition in New York City Thursday. Drake defeated Wake Forest University in the semifinals to advance to the final round with the University of California Hastings College of the Law in a competition involving the top 28 teams in the country.

As part of the national competition that encompasses 140 law schools and more than 185 teams, Drake also defeated teams from the University of Mississippi School of Law, the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, Fordham University School of Law and Boston University School of Law.

Matt Eslick, a third-year law student from Des Moines, was named the second best oralist in the final round. Also on the Drake team, sponsored by the Des Moines law firm of Whitfield & Eddy, were Anna Wholey, a second-year student from Des Moines, and Dan Anderson, a second-year student from Mediapolis, Iowa.

"The Drake team performed perfectly, but lost the final round to the Hastings team, which was simply phenomenal," said Laurie Doré, professor of law and team coach. "A second-place finish is an outstanding accomplishment for Drake Law School."

The National Moot Court Competitions are the oldest and most prestigious competitions of their kind in the country. They are styled as an oral argument before the United States Supreme Court. This year’s case involved interpretation of the federal mail fraud statute and the constitutionality of Tax Court rules.

"Drake Law School is a traditional strong performer in the National Moot Court Competition," said Law School Dean David Walker. "In 11 out of the last 15 years, Drake has placed first in the region, which includes law schools in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Drake tied for third in the nation last year and won the competition in 2001."

Two teams from Drake swept the regional competition last fall, but only the first-place team advanced to the national competition because law schools are limited to one team each. The Whitfield & Eddy law firm sponsored both Drake teams.

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