Tracy Smith Named Champion of Armand Arabian Advocacy Tournament

On Friday, September 29, the Odell McConnell Law Center held the final round of the Armand Arabian Individual Advocacy Tournament. Pepperdine Law’s moot court competition is named for the Honorable Armand Arabian who served on the Supreme Court of California from 1990 until his retirement in 1996. Justice Arabian served in the Los Angeles Superior Courts from 1972-1983. In November 1983, he was appointed to the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 3 by Governor George Deukmejian. He now serves as a private judge. Justice Arabian is a member of the School of Law’s Board of Visitors.

This year’s final round bench consisted of the Honorable Terry Adamson, retired Commissioner of the Los Angeles Superior Court, Wendy McGuire Coats (JD ’05), Partner and Appellate Counsel at Fisher Phillips in San Francisco, and Ames Smith, Attorney at Law.

Tracy Smith (JD ’19) argued on behalf of the petitioners, and Bailey Blaies (JD ’18) argued on behalf of the respondent. The competition problem was written by Paul Czer (JD ’19). The judges expressed how impressed they were with both participants, and Smith was ultimately named the winner.

As champion of the final round, Smith received a $2,500 prize from the Arabian Fund as well as an additional $1,000 from alumnus Terry Giles in honor of his friend, Philip Vincent. As a finalist, Blaies also received a $1,500 prize from the Arabian Fund.

Melanie Cockrum is the Armand Arabian Advocacy Tournament Chair, and Tanya Nagesvaran serves as Moot Court Board Chair.

Congratulations to this year’s participants for an admirable display of legal advocacy skills.