UWLA Students Take Top Honors At the Frank Darras Disability Law Moot Court Competition

UWLA students Robin Springer and Josh Groner faced classmates Kimberly Waxman and Killian Jones in the finals of the annual Frank N. Darras Disability Law Moot Court Competition. The final round was held on March 28, in the courtroom of the California Court of Appeal in Santa Ana. Final round judges included California Court of Appeal Justice Richard Fybel and Western State College of Law Dean Maryann Jones. Ms. Springer and Mr. Groner were declared the winner of the final round, although the judges added that the competition was very close.

Ms. Springer and Mr. Groner also earned top honors for writing the best legal brief, and Ms. Springer received the award for best oral advocate. Ms. Waxman and Mr. Jones were awarded second place in the brief competition, in another close finish in which UWLA swept the awards.
“Both teams performed exceptionally well,” said David Glassman, adjunct law professor and coach. The final round judges were “extremely complementary.”
The teams spent several weeks writing legal briefs and about three weeks preparing for oral arguments. Orange County judges, attorneys and Western State law faculty judged practice rounds. The UWLA teams reached the finals after preliminary round arguments against Western States students, and semi-finals arguments against students from John F. Kennedy Law School. UWLA alums and former moot court participants Kevin Cottrell and Susan Livshin devoted a great deal of time advising the students on moot court competition.

The Darras Moot Court is hosted by Western State and involve legal issues arising out of the Americans with Disabilities Act.