Daniel Johnson and Mitchell Clough (from left, above), both 2Ls, endured a thorough grilling from the judges to win the 58th Annual Wendell F. Grimes Moot Court Competition at BC Law on April 18. They were arguing for the petitioner in a technically complex case involving the conviction and order to deport a man involved in the sale of a drug resembling heroin to an undercover policeman. Clough was also named best oralist.
The competing finalists, arguing for the respondents, were John Gavin and Timothy Andrea.
All four contestants faced a peppery bench comprising Hon. Jennifer Walker Elrod of the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit; Robert N. Scola ’80 of the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida; and Hon. Geraldine S. Hines, retired justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. Afterward, the judges praised the four finalists for their command of the law surrounding the case and for their nimbleness in responding to questions. In so many words, Judge Elrod told them that they were ready to do this ” in real life.”
In the general competition, overseen by director of BC Law’s advocacy programs Rosemary Daly ’87, 21 two-person teams competed in multiple rounds. The top oralist from the general competition was Amber Groves and the top brief winners were Emma Bolla and Timothy Malley.
Read also an Impact blog about the experience of one of last year’s Grimes winners.
Photo, from left: Daniel Johnson ’19, Mitchell Clough ’19, Hon. Robert N. Scola ’80, Hon. Jennifer Walker Elrod, Hon. Geraldine Hines, John Gavin ’19, and Timothy Andrea ’19.