FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 21, 2005

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

DRAKE LAW SCHOOL NATIONAL MOOT COURT TEAM PLACES SECOND IN REGIONALS

The Drake University Law School National Moot Court team finished second in a field of 14 teams at the regional rounds of the National Moot Court Competition held in Minneapolis last week. Drake and the first-place team from the University of Minnesota will advance to the national finals in New York City the week of Jan. 30, 2006.

The Drake team, which also won the Best Respondent’s Brief Award and received the best overall brief score, consists of Daniel J. Anderson, a third-year student from Coralville, Iowa; Anna Wholey, a third-year student from Rockford, Ill.; and Emily Peebler, a second-year student from Robins, Iowa. Anderson placed third among the Top Ten Oralists and Peebler finished sixth.

"The students performed extremely well," said Laurie Dore, professor of law and coach. "I'm proud they not only excelled orally but also demonstrated strong analytical and writing skills. We're excited to be going to New York."

A second Drake Law School team, which was defeated in the quarter-finals, consists of Joel Hengstler, a third-year student from West Des Moines; Mary Lindstrom, a second-year student from Galesburg, Ill.; and Geneva Williams, a third-year student from St. Louis.

"This team performed exceptionally well but hit some tough competition early on," Dore said. "Two members were honored among the Top Ten Oralists — Joel Hengstler placed fifth and Geneva Williams was seventh. It's significant that four out of the six Drake students finished among the Top Ten Oralists. The other two weren't eligible for the honor because they didn't argue more than once through the quarter-finals."

The National Moot Court Competition, one of the oldest and most prestigious of its kind in the country, is jointly sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.

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