Earlier this month WashU Law hosted the U.S. Marine Corps Judge Advocates for the first annual Opening Statement Competition. The two-day program brought together law students to develop and deliver persuasive opening statements in a courtroom setting, with direct feedback from experienced litigators and Marine Corps legal officers.
Day one focused on advocacy fundamentals, where students examined the elements of an effective opening statement, reviewed the competition’s ground rules, and analyzed the assigned fact pattern and evidentiary record. On day two, each participant presented an opening statement before a panel of Marine Corps Judge Advocates, who evaluated and scored the competitors.
2L Harold Espinales earned first place with a structured, credible presentation that demonstrated command of the facts and a clear theory of the case. His performance set the standard in the competition’s inaugural year.
The event was organized with the support of the Career Center and Judges Anna Dryden, Phillip Peche, Geoff Ogden, and Randy Soriano, who volunteered their time and trial expertise to assess the students’ work and mentor future advocates.
Congratulations to Harold Espinales on an outstanding achievement and to all participants who stepped into the courtroom to sharpen their advocacy skills.
