November 04, 2011
The Law School recently hosted the four-day Peter James Johnson
National Civil Rights Competition. Sixteen teams from across the
country competed in the tournament, trying their cases in front of
panels of prestigious judges and practicing attorneys. This year,
competition’s fact pattern focused on a disability rights issue
modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act.
For the first time ever, the St. John’s team ― student advocates
Marina Braverman ‘12, Mary Vitale ‘12, Jennifer Elson ’12 and
Catherine Jahn ’11 ― advanced to the semi-final round under the
leadership of coaches Pishoy Yacoub ‘05 and Thomas Brennan ‘06. “It
was a pleasure coaching the four students and wonderful to see them
grow as advocates throughout the entire process,” said
Brennan.
Photo Gallery
South Texas College of Law defeated Emory Law in the final round of
competition argued before Hon. Douglas E. McKeon of Supreme Court,
Bronx County. All evaluators and judges voiced how impressed they
were with level of advocacy displayed by all the competitors
throughout the competition.
Now in its ninth year, the Peter James Johnson National Civil
Rights Competition is the only national civil rights trial
competition in the nation. It was renamed in 2008 in honor of Peter
James Johnson ’49, a St. John’s graduate who dedicated his legal
career to excellence in the practice of law.