Spillers and Waddell Win Law School's Trial Advocacy Championship

School of Law

From left: Taylor Spillers, Bennett Waddell, the Hon. Timothy Brooks, Rebekah Marrufo, Trent Freeman and Pierce Teeuwen at the federal courthouse.

Law students Taylor Spillers and Bennett Waddell successfully persuaded the jury to return a verdict in favor of the defendant, winning the Grand Championship round of the U of A School of Law's Trial Advocacy course. The Hon. Timothy Brooks of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas presided over the final round, which took place on April 12 at the federal courthouse.

The jury of fellow trial advocates and peers named Spillers and Waddell as the Best Team Advocates and Trenton Freeman as the Best Overall Individual Advocate. Freeman, along with Rebekah Marrufo and Pierce Teeuwen, represented the plaintiff.

The grand championship round is the culmination of the law school's Trial Advocacy course. The case file the students worked on this semester was Sharon Watson v. Century Technologies, Inc. The plaintiff, Sharon Watson, had been employed by the defendant, Century Technologies, for 25 years. Watson was 48 years old when she was terminated. The plaintiff contended that she was discriminated against because of her age, whereas the defendant contended the plaintiff was terminated for her poor attitude about the company's new direction, her declining sales and insubordination.

The top two scoring teams were pitted against each other from eight preceding regular trial rounds in which all 33 students from the class participated. 

"The students in this semester's trial advocacy course were some of the best ever," Brooks said. "Our students learned and demonstrated trial skills at a very high level of proficiency. The regular round scoring was the closest that we have ever seen. The future of courtroom advocacy in Arkansas (and beyond) is very bright."

The trial is an exhibition of the four principal trial skills — the opening statement, the direct exam, the cross exam and the closing argument — that students learn throughout the course of the semester.

About the School of Law: The law school offers a competitive J.D. as well as an advanced LL.M. program, which are taught by nationally recognized faculty. The school offers unique opportunities for students to participate in pro bono work, externships, live client clinics, competitions, and food and agriculture initiatives. The school strives to identify, discuss, and challenge issues of race, color, ethnicity, and the impact(s) they have on students, faculty, and staff members in an effort to achieve a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community. From admitting the Six Pioneers who were the first African American students to attend law school in the South without a court order to graduating governors, judges, prosecutors, and faculty who went on to become President of the United States and Secretary of State, the law school has a rich history and culture. Follows us at @uarklaw.