In the past eight months, students in our Appellate Clinic, directed by Professor Steve Alagna, have argued three federal appeals in three different appellate courts across the country.
In March 2025, a team of three Clinic students traveled to Richmond, Virginia for an oral argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Lawson Sadler, supported by Monica Maiman and Olivia Guidry, presented the argument in a habeas case for a client incarcerated in West Virginia. Lawson Sadler was later recognized as a recipient of the Clinical Legal Education Association’s Award for Outstanding Clinical Work.
Then, days before graduating in May 2025, another Clinic team traveled for an oral argument in another habeas case, this time in the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati. There, Clinic student Kyle Lorey argued the appeal, supported by teammates Charlotte Morse and Colton Woodson.
Most recently, a team of Clinic students appeared in the Eighth Circuit in St. Louis to present oral arguments in a civil-rights lawsuit. 3L Beverly Lobo argued the appeal, which involves a question related to the Prison Litigation Reform Act’s exhaustion requirement, supported by teammates Ashrakat Hassan and Zachary Irovando.
Together, these accomplishments reflect a remarkable year of oral advocacy at WashU Law, and we congratulate all of our clinic students for representing WashU Law with such skill, commitment, and professionalism.
