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The Tournament of Champions: History
In 1989, Professor Charles E. "Chuck" Kirkwood of the University of Akron School of Law hosted the first Tournament of Champions Trial Competition. He invited the best student trial advocacy law schools in the nation. Invitations were based on performance over the years in two "open" student trial competitions, the National Trial Competition and the ATLA National Student Trial Advocacy Competition. The tournament was informal and fun, with a focus on outstanding trial advocacy skills. In 1995, NITA recognized the outstanding quality of this tournament and chose to sponsor the Tournament of Champions. In 2005, LexisNexis® became a co-sponsor.
Today, the tournament is one of the premier law school trial competitions in the nation and is known for having the highest quality of congeniality and good sportsmanship. Each year, sixteen schools are invited. The invitations are based on a three-year performance record at the National Trial Competition and the ATLA National Student Trial Advocacy Competition, and performances at prior Tournament of Champions competition.
2009 Tournament of Champions Results
Champion: St. John's University School of Law
2nd Place: South Texas College of Law
3rd Place: Chicago Kent College of Law
4th Place: University of Maryland School of Law
Best Advocate, Preliminary Rounds:
Michael Zabel of Temple University
Best Advocate, Final Rounds
Michael Maffei of St. John's University
2009 Tournament of Champions Participating Schools:
Suffolk University
Syracuse University
Temple University
University of Maryland
Baylor University
University of Kentucky
Chicago Kent College of Law
Washington University in St. Louis
Pepperdine University
University of Georgia
Cumberland University
South Texas College of Law
Stetson University
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
University of Akron
St. John's University
Awards
Champions received the traveling James Seckinger Trophy, a team plaque, individual plaques, and a copy of NITA's book, Trial Technique & Evidence by Michael R. Fontham. Runner-Up and Semi-Finalists each received a team plaque. The Best Advocates received scholarships to a NITA Deposition Program. All Advocates received a collection of NITA books and certificates.
PHOTOS OF THE 2009 TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS WILL BE ONLINE SOON
Photos From 2008
The 2008 James H. Seckinger Trophy Winners: Duquesne University School of Law
Runner Up: South Texas School of Law
Semi-Finalist: Loyola Law School Los Angeles
Semi Finalist: University of Maryland School of Law
Previous Winners of the James H. Seckinger Trophy
2007 St. John's University School of Law (Click for photos)
2006 University of Maryland School of Law (Click for photos)
2005 Temple University School of Law
2004 Stetson University College of Law
2003 University of Akron School of Law
2002 Pepperdine University School of Law
2001 Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
2000 University of Texas School of Law
1999 Howard University School of Law
1998 Temple University School of Law
1997 Temple University School of Law
1996 Temple University School of Law
1995 Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
1994 Stetson University College of Law
1993 Stetson University College of Law
1992 University of San Diego Law School
1991 Stetson University College of Law
1990 South Texas College of Law
1989 Stetson University College of Law
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