Written by Business Journal staff
The San Joaquin College of Law in Clovis beat 13 other law schools to win a Roger G. Traynor trophy during the Traynor Moot Court Competition held last week in Fresno.
This year marks the first time the college has won the Traynor Trophy since the competition started up 40 years ago to honor former California Chief Justice Roger Traynor.
It was also the first time that the competition has been held in Fresno, with the mock legal proceedings taking place April 13 and 14 at the Robert E. Coyle Federal Courthouse in downtown.
The San Joaquin College of Law students George Vasquez, Amanda DeHart and James Mugridge just edged out Loyola School of Law in Los Angeles to win the Roger J. Traynor trophy for Best Oral Argument.
Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco also beat out Loyola for the the Bernard E. Witkin Award for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy as well as the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers Award for Brief Writing.
The SJCL team was coached by faculty members professor Jonathan Conklin, a Fresno County Superior Court judge, and professor Stanley Boone, a U.S. Magistrate Judge.
During past Traynor competitions, the San Joaquin College of Law won the Bernard E. Witkin Award (2002) and the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers Award for brief writing (2001, 2002, 2012).