Sep 12, 2003 - USC Mock Trial Team Members Attend Historic Doe v. Unocal Proceedings

In order to illustrate the true connection between law, politics and economics, Head Coach Olu K. Orange secured an invitation for his students to observe a portion of the legal proceedings in the historic Alien Tort Claims Act case Doe v. Unocal. Barbara Enloe Hadsell, Dan Stormer and Anne K. Richardson, plaintiffs' lawyers from the maverick law firm of Hadsell & Stormer, Inc., invited the Team to attend and pose questions after the proceedings at Los Angeles Superior Court - Central Civil West.

Prior to beginning the proceedings, Judge Victoria G. Chaney, took time to welcome the Team and requested that her staff copy and distribute the pleadings of the day to the Team so that everyone could follow along! When the proceedings concluded, lead defense attorney Daniel Petrocelli (of O.J. Simpson notoriety) shook the students' hands and Attorneys Stormer & Richardson fielded a plethora of questions from the students.

For background on Doe v. Unocal and the Alien Tort Claims Act click here. For more info on the development of Universal Jurisdiction and the position of the International Criminal Court click here.

Jul 28, 2003 - USC Mock Trial Students Advocate for Real People: Helping them Secure Food and Shelter Through G.R.A.P.

The Team's participation in G.R.A.P. was a tremendous success! Please click here for details and team member statements.

May 21, 2003 - USC Mock Trial Team Members Slated to Participate in G.R.A.P.

This August, eight select members of the USC Mock Trial Team will volunteer their skills as participants in the General Relief Advocacy Project (GRAP). GRAP, sponsored by Public Counsel of Los Angeles, is a public interest law program designed to assist homeless and indigent humans retain or secure their General Relief and Food Stamp benefits.

General Relief and Food Stamp benefits are often the last resort for most impoverished people. These benefits can prevent the loss of shelter and personal possessions, as well as curtail the downward spiral of hopelessness and despair. Unfortunately, the system is often punitive, making it as hard as possible for people to apply for, and retain, benefits.

Team members’ work this summer with Public Counsel will involve advocating for the rights of homeless and indigent individuals and families before various administrative agencies. They will work on site in multiple Department of Social Services (DPSS) offices helping citizens all over Los Angeles County secure shelter, clothing, food and other vital benefits. Through an "advocate liaison" system, students will have direct access to high-level officials with the authority to reverse case terminations and sanctions.

People whose benefits have been wrongfully terminated often need assistance working through the bureaucracy to reacquire their benefits. For many, these benefits offer the last alternative to outright hunger and homelessness. Last summer, GRAP volunteers advocated for the rights of thousands of homeless and indigent clients in the Los Angeles area.

Participation in GRAP is typically reserved for law students. However through a combined effort by team Head Coach, Olu Orange, and Public Counsel's Pro-Bono Coordinator, Ted Zepeda, USC "Mock" Trial Team members will gain experience advocating for real people.

May 16, 2003 - Four Members of the USC Mock Trial Team Graduate

Congratulations to Jami Grenham, Marc Habib, Michael Kelly and Anna Williams! They all completed their undergraduate studies and received degrees on May 16, 2003. Jami, Marc, Michael and Anna join Arturo Frescas as distinguished USC Mock Trial Alumni.

Apr 23, 2003 - USC Mock Trial Team Meets LAS Board of Councilors

On April 23, 2003, Dean Joseph Aoun invited the USC Mock Trial Team to meet the Board Councilors of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. 346 Team Captain Siri Lerdsirisopon breifed the Board on recent Team activities and achievements. Members of the Board and the Team enjoyed conversation, hors d'oeuvres and performance art.

Apr 14, 2003 - USC Mock Trial Team Wins Second Place Trophy and "Spirit of AMTA" Award at National Tournament

Between April 10th and 14th, the USC Mock Trial team traveled to Richmond, KY. to compete in the American Intercollegiate Mock Trial Tournament sponsored by the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA). The Team won a second-place trophy in the Sara Combs Division. Moreover, the USC students won the Spirit of AMTA Award and were featured on KLEX-NBC’s evening news in Lexington/Richmond. The Spirit of AMTA Award is presented to the team that most embodies the commitment to “civility, fair play and justice” that true trial advocacy requires.

In addition, one of the Team’s members, Jami Grenham, won a Best Witness award and participated in the All-American Honors Trial. She is now an AMTA Intercollegiate All-American. The regional tournament director has confirmed that USC’s team may continue to host the regional tournament for as long as it desires. Thus, it shall continue to play a dominant role in intercollegiate trial advocacy on the West Coast.

Mar 11, 2003 - USC Mock Trial Team Granted Formal Home in College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Today, Dr. Joseph Aoun, Dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, initiated a plan to provide the USC Mock Trial Team with a formal home in the College. The Team previously functioned as a student organization with volunteer coaches. It is now slated as an academically competitive activity falling directly under the College and supported by a mock trial class in the Political Science Department, chaired by Dr. Mark Kann. Membership on the Team and enrollment in the class are accomplished by tryouts and the approval of Head Coach Olu Orange. Jurisdiction over the program is maintained by Associate Dean of Academic Programs, Dr. Jane Cody.

The College has always been supportive of the Mock Trial Team. The entire Team is ecstatic to be a part of LAS!

Feb 28, 2003 - Assistant Coach Laura E. Sjoberg Resigns

Laura E. Sjoberg resigns as the Assistant Coach of the USC Mock Trial Team.

Feb 23, 2003 - USC Hosts Nation's Largest Regional Intercollegiate Mock Trial Tournament

The USC Mock Trial Team hosted the Western Regional Qualifier for the American Mock Trial Association's National Intercollegiate Mock Trial Tournament. The Regional drew practicing attorneys from over 50 firms, 300 students from the most competitive schools in California and judges from multiple judicial districts. Scheduled for thirty-one teams, USC's Regional was the largest in the nation.

The first day of competitive rounds was held at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Downtown L.A. and the next day the competitors, judges and onlookers came (along with their friends and families) to USC's campus. All who participated indicated that they had never before been so impressed with an institution. Many of them were USC alumni.

USC teams were awarded two bids (discretionary - 3/5 & 3/8) to national tournaments. Also, USC students Letitia Kimble, Lindsey Greer and Jami Grenham won individual awards. Ms. Grenham won an 'Outstanding Witness' award. Ms. Greer won an 'Outstanding Attorney' award. And, get this, Ms. Kimble was the only person in the whole competition to win an 'Outstanding Attorney' award on both sides of the case!

Jan 22, 2003 - USC Mock Trial Team Coach and Students Have "Breakfast With Giants!"

On January 22, 2003, USC Mock Trial Team Head Coach Olu Orange and two of his students, Elina Agnoli and Christian Radley, attended the Los Angeles County Bar Association's "Breakfast With Giants" at the ultra-exclusive Los Angeles Athletic Club. The event exposed team members to some of the most accomplished members of the legal profession, and vice versa.

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Senior Justice Dorothy Nelson (USC Law Alumnae & prior Dean), California Appellate Justice Paul Boland (USC Law Alumnus), Chief United States District Judge Consuelo Marshall (Howard Law Alumnae), United States District Judge Lourdes Baird, and Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Victor Chavez shared their experiences, advice, and views of the future of the legal profession. The breakfast was moderated by Judge Margaret Nagle.

Judges Nelson, Boland and Marshall were enthused about the team and extended invitations to all coaches and members to visit their courtrooms.

Jan 12, 2003 - USC Squad 344 places 4th overall at UCLA Invitational Tournament

USC Squad 344 placed 4th overall at this weekend's UCLA Invitational Tournament.The University of Miami-Ohio, Stanford and UCLA took 1st, 2nd & 3rd places, respectively. Members of the Team also took home individual awards with Lindsey Greer winning 'Outstanding Attorney' and Katharine Liao winning 'Outstanding Witness'. Teams 345 and 346 placed 13th and 14th.

UCLA & USC are now "even." USC out-scored UCLA at the Yale Invitational Tournament earlier this year. Lindsey Greer also won an 'Outstanding Attorney' award at the Yale tournament.

Oct 28, 2002 - USC Secures Opportunity to Host West Coast Regional Mock Trial Tournament!

An outstanding performance by dedicated students, first-class institutional reputation and herculean effort by our coaching staff have resulted in the American Mock Trial Association bestowing upon the University of Southern California the honor of hosting the AMTA West Coast Regional Qualifying Tournament. The American Mock Trial Association is the pre-eminent competitve network in the field of pre-professional trial advocacy and USC is now one of the dominant players on the west coast. We intend to deliver a first-class tournament, with the hope that USC may play this key role indefinitely. As a program in only its second year of competition, the USC Mock Trial Team appreciates being afforded such a grand opportunity.

As for specifics, the Regional Tournament determines which of 29 mock trial teams from West Coast schools will be awarded bids to national tournaments. Currently, those schools include:

The tournament will be held from February 21st through 23rd of 2003. It will consist of a welcome to the competitors, on the evening of February 21st, two rounds of competition on both February 22nd and 23rd for a total of four rounds, and a presentation of trophies and awards on the evening of February 23rd. Events will be held on-campus and in Los Angeles County Central Superior Courthouse (Stanley Mosk Courthouse, located downtown at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, California 90012).

Scoring will be accomplished by approximately two hundred members of the local legal community, including many USC alumni and sworn members of the judiciary. Also, members of local high school mock trial teams will be encouraged to play observational roles as jurors. The Tournament will bring alumni back to the campus, allow for current students to interact with alumni on an educational and experiential level in professional contexts, expose high caliber prospective students to what USC has to offer and bolster the University's image and reputation.

Apr 14, 2002 - USC Mock Trial Team Takes First Place Trophy in National Competition!

The USC Mock Trial Team's two squads finished in first and eighth place at the American Intercollegiate Mock Trial Tournament at Stetson University School of Law in St. Petersberg, Florida. USC faced Tournament champion Wellesley College in the Championship Round, but was unable to capture the title. The Tournament took place April 12-14 and is one of three national tournaments the American Mock Trial Association Sponsors.

The Team also set a Tournament record for the winning the most individual awards: Elina Agnoli won an Outstanding Attorney Award, and joined Dan Brown and Maryam Parsioon in winning Outstanding Witness Awards. Among the schools competing at the tournament were New York University, University of Virginia, Amherst College, Rice University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. The Mock Trial team earned bids to the national tournament after an impressive performance in the regional tournament in February, facing teams from UCLA, UCSD, UC Berkeley and Stanford University.

The USC team was the most successful West Coast team in any national mock trial competition this year. The Mock Trial Team currently seeks to double its membership for the upcoming school year.

Mar 27, 2002 - USC Mock Trial Team Meets With President Sample!

[FROM LEFT TO RIGHT - Monique Sosa (Staff Advisor), Howard Cheng, Beevan Gill, Marc Habib, Greg Marek, Elina Agnoli, Fernando Brito, Daniel Brown, Steven B. Sample (USC President), Olu K. Orange (Team Coach), Laura Sjoberg (Team Assistant), Leticia Kimble, Siri Lerdsirisopon, Amy Ohebshalom, Akash Khokhar, Arturo Frescas, Steve Borello, Michael Kelly]

On March 27, 2002, the USC Mock Trial Team met with USC President Steven B. Sample. President Sample congratulated the Team on winning bids to the American Intercollegiate Mock Trial Tournament in St. Petersburg, Florida. President Sample also expressed appreciation for the excellent work of the coaching staff and wished the Team a safe trip.