First Year Fowler Law Students Excel in Annual Rutan & Tucker Golden Gavel Advocacy Competition

The 2015 Rutan & Tucker Golden Gavel Competition wrapped up on Monday, April 20, 2015 at Chapman University Fowler School of Law, with a final oral argument exhibition between Golden Gavel award recipients Kathryn Harrold and Gabrielle LaCarre. The two winners faced off before a full house in the law school’s state-of-the-art Appellate Courtroom in a hearing presided over by Justices David Thompson and Richard Fybel of the California Court of Appeal

and John Hurlbut, a partner from the sponsoring firm, Rutan & Tucker.  Although one winner each for the plaintiff and defendant had been determined prior to the exhibition, the hearing presented an opportunity for the finalists to test their advocacy skills before the prestigious judging panel. After extremely effective arguments by both students, the judges determined that the plaintiff had the stronger position, giving Harrold the ultimate bragging rights.

In addressing the winners in a debriefing after the hearing, Hurlbut said, “What a privilege to be here and to see two really,
really
good arguments.” Justice Thompson noted, “I was very impressed with the level of advocacy today,” with Justice Fybel adding, “You are as good as the top lawyers we see in our court.”

The exhibition was the culmination of the week-long annual competition in which all first year students present a mock appellate oral argument based on legal briefs written in the spring semester of their required Legal Research and Writing (LRW) class. Out of more than 150 participating students, four made it to the final round, Kathryn Harrold and Caitlin Ramsey for the plaintiff and Ashley Davies and Gabrielle LaCarre for the defendant. These students did an outstanding job, making the judges’ decision very difficult. In the end, victors Harrold and Lacarre received the coveted Golden Gavel award, with each also receiving a $500 scholarship.

“This competition was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my academic career. I feel incredibly grateful for the amazing LRW Professors who created this topic and managed the competition, as well as the esteemed justices who gave their valuable time and legal analysis,” said Golden Gavel co-winner Kathryn Harrold.

The fictional case, designed by the first year LRW professors, centered on a claim for damages under the American with Disabilities Act. The question asked whether reassignment was ordinarily required as a reasonable accommodation and whether the plaintiff qualified as disabled due to being substantially limited in the major life activity of interacting with others. Diagnosed with anxiety disorder, the plaintiff sought reassignment to another position after her employer (defendant) refused to continue to provide accommodations in her existing position. The defendant argued that reassignment under the ADA was not mandatory and that the plaintiff could not prove disability discrimination because she was not substantially limited in her ability to interact with others.

Rutan & Tucker, LLP
is a leading Orange County law firm with a strong history of investment in the mission of Chapman University and the Fowler School of Law, including the annual Golden Gavel and Golden Quill first year advocacy and writing competitions.

Click here to view a slideshow of the 2015 Rutan & Tucker Golden Gavel Competition.