UF Trial Team members, from left, Trae Weingardt, Tara Tedrow, Anita McNulty, and Brandon Rose placed second in the 12th Annual National Trial Advocacy Competition at Michigan State University College of Law. (Photo by Nicole Safker)

The UF Trial Team sent third-year law students Tara Tedrow, Anita McNulty, Trae Weingardt and Brandon Rose Sept. 28 to Oct. 2 to the 12th Annual National Trial Advocacy Competition at Michigan State University College of Law. The four students competed as advocates and witnesses, alternating roles depending on which side they were assigned to represent during trial.

Though nearly 55 teams applied to compete, the tournament selected only the top 28 teams from law schools around the nation. After trying two defense cases and one prosecution case during the preliminary rounds, the top eight teams were selected to move on to the quarterfinal round.

UF progressed to the quarterfinals, where the prosecution, represented by Anita McNulty and Trae Weingardt, won the trial and the team moved on to the semifinals. The defense, represented by Tara Tedrow and Brandon Rose, won the semifinal round, pushing the team to the national finals, narrowly missing first place in a split decision.

On Oct. 14 at UF Law in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center Courtroom, the Trial Team invites the law school community as it celebrates the addition of 15 new members and recognizes the outstanding performance of its Final Four Competitors for an exhibition at 1 p.m. Arguing for the prosecution will be Benjamin Baird and Zachary Jellson, and for the defense, Stephanie Koffler and Katie Thomason.

The Trial Team is honored to announce the presiding judge, Judge Jonathan Gerber (JD 93), of the 4th District Court of Appeal. Judge Gerber is former Trial Team president at UF Law who has generously provided his support to the Trial Team over the years.

The Trial Team is grateful to its esteemed jury panel and sponsoring law firm of Rumberger Kirk & Caldwell for their continuing and generous support of the Final Four Competition. A panel of attorneys from Rumberger Kirk & Caldwell will determine the award recipients and verdict, and will provide advice to the competitors.

Christina Vilaseca and Frank Fischer represented the prosecution team at the Trial Team Final Four on Oct. 15. (Photo by Andres Farfan)

While most of campus was on holiday for Homecoming, Tiana Beaudouin, Frank Fischer, Tara Tedrow and Christina Vilaseca were competing in the Trial Team Final Four on Friday, Oct. 15, in front of a judge, jury and other guests and Trial Team members.

The students, all 2Ls, argued the case, which involved criminal charges of embezzlement, use of a computer to commit a crime, and exceeding valid computer authorization, before the Honorable Charlene Honeywell, United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida. J. Scott Kirk, LaShawnda K. Jackson and Mary A. Cox, attorneys from Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, P.A., comprised the jury.

The jury returned a verdict for the defendant, represented by Tara Tedrow and Tiana Beaudouin, finding him not guilty on all charges. Tedrow and Beaudouin won the Best Team Award. Tedrow also received the Best Advocate Award.

“Participating in the competition was a great experience,” Tedrow said. She believes the Trial Team is one of the greatest opportunities at the law school to prepare for future practice.

“Even if full trials are rare, the communication, persuasion and writing skills necessary to succeed will benefit you outside of the courtroom. Interacting with clients, other attorneys and judges at pre-trial hearings, mediations and depositions all require the skills that Trial Team will instill.”