Center For Excellence In Advocacy Annual Awards Ceremony

Photograph: Lynn Johnson giving keynote address at Washburn Law Center for Excellence in Advocacy awards banquet.
Lynn Johnson was keynote speaker.

Washburn University School of Law held its Center for Excellence in Advocacy Annual Awards Banquet Tuesday, April 10, 2007, at the Bradbury Thompson Center on the Washburn University campus.

Lynn R. Johnson, of Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, Chartered, gave the keynote address. Johnson encouraged students and other attendees to be guardians of the the Bill of Rights and of a strong independent judiciary, both needed to protect the rule of law. In addition, the right to trial by jury, both civil and criminal, must be protected. Johnson also encouraged students to get involved in the law school, the bar association and the community at large and to be an advocate for the "little guy." He also observed that trial lawyers must keep up with the latest techniques and be willing to change and learn new disciplines.

Johnson received a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University in 1967 and earned his law degree at Washburn in 1970. While attending law school he served as comments editor of the Washburn Law Journal. Johnson is a partner and trial attorney in the Kansas City law firm of Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, Chartered. He served on the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission from 1993 to 2001, and was chairman of the Commission from 1993 to 1997. He is a member of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association and the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. He has been listed in every edition of Best Lawyers in America from 1987 to present. In 1998, Johnson was inducted into the Inner Circle of Advocates, the most exclusive professional association of trial attorneys in the United States; membership is limited to 100 lawyers. Johnson earned the Washburn University School of Law Distinguished Service Award in 2001 and currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the Center for Excellence in Advocacy.

Moot Court Council Presentations

Zach Chaffee-McClure, Moot Court President, reviewed the 2006-2007 competitions:

Photograph: Lester Goodell congratulating Amy Taylor.
Gerald Goodell
congratulates Amy Taylor.

The Lester M. Goodell Awards
Since 1969, the Topeka law firm Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer, L.L.P. has sponsored the annual Lester M. Goodell Memorial Intramural Moot Court Competition conducted each fall.. Initially, the Goodell Award recognized the top oralist in the competition. In 1979, a second award was created to recognize the top brief writer. The name of each recipient is engraved on the Goodell trophies and plaque, which are permanently on display at Washburn University School of Law. The tryout competition includes a final round in which the top four oralists from the preliminary round competed for the Lester M. Goodell Best Oralist Award. This year's final oral argument round, held in the Robinson Courtroom, was presided over by The Honorable Lee A. Johnson, The Honorable Tom Malone and The Honorable Stephen D. Hill all from the Kansas Court of Appeals. In addition, Gerald Goodell, from Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer, L.L.P. and son of Lester M. Goodell, also judged the final round.

2006-2007 Recipients of the Lester M. Goodell Awards
Top Oralist: Christopher (Charles) C. Ault-Duell
Top Brief Writer: Amy E. Taylor

Martin, Pringle, Oliver, Wallace & Bauer Awards
Since 1992, the Wichita law firm of Martin, Pringle, Oliver, Wallace & Bauer, L.L.P. has sponsored a Moot Court team. The firm underwrites the expenses related to a competition and also provides scholarship awards.

The purpose of the Martin, Pringle Awards is to develop and recognize excellence in the area of appellate advocacy. Each recipient's name is engraved on a plaque, which is permanently on display at the law school.

2006-2007 Recipients: Kelly J. Kauffman, Karen M. Quintelier

John K. Kleinheksel Prize for Excellence in Oral Advocacy
This endowed prize fund has been established through a gift to the Washburn Law School Foundation from John K. Kleinheksel. The prize is divided among the members of the Moot Court team who achieve the highest final ranking in an interschool competition.

2006-2007 Recipients: Matthew C. Ballard, Zachary L. Chaffee-McClure

Faculty Brief Award
The Faculty Brief Award is presented each year to team members who author the best intermural competition brief. The Moot Court Faculty Committee chose from among briefs written by Washburn Moot Court interscholastic competition teams.

2006-2007 Recipients: Christopher (Charles) C. Ault-Duell, Lynn G. Trevino

Trial Advocacy Awards

Photograph: Stacey Schlimmer (top) and Krystle Dalke being congratulated by Professor Michael Kaye.
Michael Kaye congratulates
Stacey Schlimmer (top)
and Krystle Dalke.

Max Rowinsky Award for Outstanding Student
This award honors the late Max Rowinsky, a noted trial lawyer who practiced in the Shawnee and Johnson County Public Defenders Offices. The award is presented to the outstanding student in the current year's Trial Advocacy class.

2006-2007 Recipient: Stacey L. Schlimmer

The American Board of Trial Advocates Award
The ABOTA Award honors Dick Sangster, a 1955 graduate of Washburn University School of Law. Mr. Sangster served on the national board of the American Board of Trial Advocates. The award is presented to a second-year law student in the current year's Trial Advocacy class who shows outstanding promise as a trial attorney.

2006-2007 Recipients: Krystle M. Dalke, Tina M. Luper

The Order of Barristers Award

The Order of Barristers is a national honorary organization whose purpose is the encouragement of oral advocacy and brief writing skills through effective law school oral advocacy programs. The Order seeks to improve these skills through interscholastic sharing of ideas, information, and resources. The Order also provides national recognition for individuals who have excelled in advocacy and service at their respective school.

The Order originated in 1965 at the University of Texas School of Law. It became a national organization in 1970. Washburn University School of Law is a charter member of The Order. Schools having charters in The Order include those nationally recognized for outstanding moot court programs.

An individual selected to The Order receives the highest honor a law student can attain for distinction in oral advocacy. Since 1973, this honor has been one of the few law school achievements recognized by Martindale-Hubbell in its biography of lawyers.

2007 Inductees: Matthew C. Ballard, Zach L. Chaffee-McClure, Jason R. Covington, Shelby J. Grau, Jay R. Hall, Tracey D. Johnson, Kelly J. Kauffman, Kristen C. Kellems, Karen M. Quintelier, Melissa M. Schoen

Other Recognition

Client Counseling Competition
Shawn Leisinger, competition coach, reviewed the year and recognized the competitors.

Negotiation Competition
Professor Mary Kreiner Ramirez, faculty advisor, reviewed the year and recognized the competitors.

In Memoriam — Byron M. Cerrillo, 1956-2006

Photograph: Byron Cerrillo.Byron Cerrillo, a 1984 graduate of Washburn University School of Law and a career public defender, died of cancer July 26, 2006. He taught every year in the Washburn Intensive Trial Advocacy Program (ITAP) and taught lawyers trial advocacy through programs sponsored by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He taught annually in the Washburn Law Outreach Programs for Public Service Lawyers. As chief public defender for Johnson County Cerrillo developed a weekly advocacy training program for his attorneys. He was a strong, courageous, and devoted advocate for his clients and spent countless hours working in their defense. As a trial advocacy teacher, he was a warm, patient, and wise mentor who brought a lively sense of humor and enthusiasm to teaching the students who were fortunate to work with him. He was always available and accessible to those seeking to improve their skills. We will miss him both as a teacher and as a friend.

In Byron Cerrillo's honor, Washburn University School of Law has created the Byron M. Cerrillo Memorial Scholarship Fund for outstanding advocacy students at the law school. This fund will allow us to honor his memory and to continue, in his name, to encourage students to pursue careers in advocacy by recognizing their achievements in law school advocacy courses.