STU Law’s trial team win mock trial competition

The trial team from the Benjamin L. Crump Center for Social Justice at the St. Thomas University College of Law defeated Stetson University to win the 1st Place trophy at the 39th Annual Florida Bar Chester Bedell Mock Trial Competition held Jan. 19 – 21 in Orlando.

     “We are incredibly proud of their outstanding performance as the winning team,” Dean Tarlika Nunez-Navarro said in an announcement about Michael Rizo, Vanessa Guirachoce; Valentina Grizales and Alyssa Levy. Grizales also earned the Best Advocate title.

     STU won over other law schools in the state, including Barry University; University of Miami; Cooley Law School and the University of Florida, Nunez-Navarro said. 

     The Florida Bar Association’s Trial Lawyers Section hosted the event. Shown above from left: Coach Gabriela Matos (’23), Ken Racicot; Michael Rizo; Judge Roy “Skip” Dalton, Jr., U.S. District Court Judge for the Middle District of Florida; Alyssa Levy; Alyssa Fleischer; Vanessa Guiracoche; Valentina Grizales; Megan de Guzman; Victoire Jonqua; Coach Katerine Lopez-Espinal; Coach Jeff James and event sponsor Thomas E. Bishop, Bishop Page & Mills, PLLC. Coaches Professor Houson Lafrance (’14) and Melissa Respeto (’21) are not shown.