Clark Finals 2008 Argued Before RI Supreme Court

Only in Rhode Island may second year students argue before the state Supreme Court. That’s what happened at RWU Law on October 30 when 2Ls Craig Graham and Hala Furst argued in the final round of the Esther Clark Moot Court Competition before a full house of faculty, students, family, and friends.

The moot court program is an important part of co-curricular life at RWU Law and the Esther Clark Competition is the prestigious in-house competition. Named for a beloved professor, it is open the second year students who write an appellate brief and then argue both sides in several preliminary rounds. The finalists then argue before the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Court is in Session

This year’s problem arose out of a car jacking. The police found a key dropped at the scene of the crime. They inserted it into the lock of the defendant’s front door, but they did not turn the key. The police then obtained a search warrant and found the murder weapon in the defendant’s house. However, in order to reach the front door lock, the police had to pass the mail box and door bell, open an unlocked screen door and then cross the screened in porch to reach the front door.  The defendant claimed that the police violated his Fourth Amendment rights when they entered and crossed his porch and then inserted a key into the lock without a search warrant and also that the two consecutive life sentences he received constituted double jeopardy in violation of the Fifth Amendment.

Craig Graham for the United States

Hala makes her point

Craig represented the defendant/petitioner and Hala represented the government. It was a hot bench. The justices peppered each counsel with tough questions, but the student advocates stood their ground admirably.

A skeptical Justice Flaherty poses a question

The justices then retired and returned to give their critiques. It was a pleasure to hear them praise both counsel for the quality of their arguments. The justices emphasized the closeness of their decision and gave it to Craig Graham. A few minutes earlier Hala Furst won the best brief award.

(L-R) Justice Paul Suttell, Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg,
Runner-Up Hala Furst (’10), Chief Justice Frank Williams,
Champion Craig Graham (’10), Justice Francis Flaherty and Justice William Robinson.

After the arguments the justices, participants and the audience enjoyed a reception in the atrium.  Later it was a particular honor to host the justices, along with some faculty and students at my home for an informal dinner. And . . . the Chief Justice brought the dessert!

Only in Rhode Island.