The University of Arizona Wins Annual Jenckes Cup for 4th Year in a Row – 11.6.2013

 

Last Friday Arizona Law students Robson Hauser (3L) and Sean Kelly (2L) prevailed at the 44th annual Joseph Jenckes Closing Arguments Competition.

This is the University of Arizona’s 4th straight victory in the Jenckes Competition — the first time this has happened since the competition began in 1970 (six years after ASU’s law school was founded). College faculty, alumni, and students sat in the audience to cheer (as allowed). It was thrilling — a tough case involving a defendant who was tried for murder after a road rage incident turned deadly, who claimed self-defense.

Robson Hauser brought outstanding competition experience and training to the Jenckes contest. In addition to being a member of our victorious Jenckes team last year (with John Lierman ’13) — making Robson only the second Arizona Law student ever to win the Jenckes Cup two years in a row — he was also a finalist in the Richard Grand Damages Closing Arguments Competition each of the last two years. He has received the Outstanding Oral Advocacy Award and has volunteered as a coach with the U of A’s Undergraduate Mock Trial throughout his time in law school.

The Jenckes contest is named for the late Joseph S. Jenckes (’61), an alum and prominent Phoenix attorney who was a fellow of the Arizona Chapter of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), which sponsors the competition. The judges are members of ACTL’s Arizona Chapter.

Congratulations to Robson, Sean, and Tom, and all students and lawyers who compete or work with the team.