fredrick douglass moot court competition

Mississippi College School of Law Places Third at Regional Frederick Douglass Competition; Advances to National Competition
March 14, 2008

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Mississippi College School of Law placed Third at the Southern Region Black Law Student Association (SRBLSA) Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition January 24-27 in Columbia, South Carolina. The team, composed of second-year students Jana Edmondson and Katrell Nash, will be one of only 18 teams from across the United States competing in the National Black Law Student Association (NBLSA) Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition March 26-30.

“The National Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition is the most rigorous and demanding thing I’ve participated in since being in law school,” said Edmondson. “The problem was complex, the judges demanding and I know I’ll be a better practitioner as a result of my participation.”

“I am thrilled about our advancement to the national competition,” Nash added. “I feel privileged to represent our school in the national competition and look forward to the opportunity to compete against the top teams from the surrounding regions.”

A second MCSOL team composed of third-year student Joslyn Anthony and second-year student Denita Smith advanced to the Frederick Douglass Competition’s semifinal argument, and placed fourth overall at the Competition. Both MCSOL teams remained undefeated during the Competition’s preliminary arguments, with perfect scores being awarded to Edmondson, Nash and Anthony during different arguments. Marlena Pickering, an attorney with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, coached the teams.

“The judges were clearly impressed with our team’s level of preparation and argument styles,” Pickering said. “One judge said Jana Edmondson’s comprehensive knowledge of the applicable case law was ‘scary;’ Katrell Nash’s diligent determination lead another judge to compare her to Rosa Parks; Joslyn Anthony’s rhythmic and powerful oratory style was compared to that of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and Denita Smith was called ‘poised and polished at the podium.’ The success of this year’s Frederick Douglass teams is attributed only to the hard work and dedication each team member devoted to this esteemed competition.”

MCSOL was one of 24 teams competing at the 37th Annual SRBLSA Convention’s Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition. Attorneys Gale Walker of Wilkes & McHugh and Omar Nelson of Morgan & Morgan also coached MCSOL’s Frederick Douglass Competition teams, which are sponsored by the Jackson, Mississippi law firm of Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada.