Wells takes top honors in Moot Court finals

Diidri Wells, a second-year student at USC Law, was awarded first place in the annual Hale Moot Court Honors Program Competition after presenting oral arguments Friday in a final round of competition judged by three U.S. Circuit Court judges. (Read The Florida Times-Union article on Wells).

Jaclyn Grossman was named runner-up, and Keith Jones and Spencer Persson were honored as finalists. All are second-year students. (Persson's participation was mentioned in a brief story in the Arizona Republic, his hometown paper).

At issue in the hypothetical case argued by the students was whether preventing male death row prisoners from procreating denies them due process and equal protection in violation of the Fifth Amendment and whether the Federal Death Penalty Act violates the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment because of the risk of executing innocent individuals. Grossman and Jones argued on behalf of a fictitious death row inmate whose attempts to arrange artificial insemination of his wife were blocked by prison officials. Wells and Persson argued on behalf of the prison's warden.

The Hon. Kenneth F. Ripple of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Hon. Eric L. Clay of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Hon. Susan P. Graber of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judged the final round of competition.

"Each of the four of you compare very favorably to the lawyers we see in our courtrooms every day," Judge Graber told the finalists after oral arguments concluded. "And you were better than many of the lawyers we see. These were really outstanding presentations."

The Hale Moot Court Honors Program is one of the most prestigious programs at USC Law School. Established in 1948, the program is entirely student-run. Forty second-year students are selected to participate in the program each year. Throughout the year, they present both written and oral advocacy on a case that is developed by an executive board composed of students selected from the previous year's program participants. Preliminary rounds of oral argument are judged by distinguished members of the local bar and the local, state and federal benches.

Other awards announced at Friday's competition include:
Best petitioner brief: Lyssa Roberts and Anneliese Kannow
Best respondent brief: Melody Bell and Diidri Wells
Runner-up petitioner brief: Keith Jones and Garrett Sleichter
Runner-up respondent brief: Nancy Riley and Melissa Reese
Outstanding Service Awards: Jennifer Fercovich and Jean Carn