Moot Court & Advocacy Board Members
Jenny Bales
Jenny is a 3L from Eagle River, Alaska. She received her BA from Montana State University in Media and Theatre Arts and is currently focusing her law studies on Intellectual Property. She served as In-house counsel for the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition Team in Spring '09 and will be an Oralist for the Pepperdine Entertainment Law Competition in Fall '09. She is also a Senior Associate of the Journal of International Law and a TA for the Moot Court Competition Class. She spent her last summer working for the Small Business & Nonprofit Clinic. When she has free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, and photography. After law school, she hopes to make her way back out West to resume playing in the more mountainous regions of the country and practicing IP law.
Patrick Burns
Patrick is a 3L from State College, Pennsylvania and the team captain/brief writer for the Wechsler First Amendment competition this fall. Last spring he served as an in-house for the Kaufman Securities law moot court competition. He graduated from Penn State University in 2004 with a B.A. in Political Science and minors in business and history. He also is a senior associate editor on the Journal of International law. Between undergrad and law school, he worked in supply chain management for JB Hunt Transport in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Gavin Cond
Gavin is a 3L from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and currently serves as the brief writer for the the team going to the Pepperdine National Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition. He previously served as an in-house counsel for the Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence Competition team that took first place in the 2009 competition. Prior to law school, Gavin graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an honor's degree in Kinesiology. In his free time, Gavin enjoys mountain biking, tailgating, and playing on the MSU College of Law hockey team.
Bridget Curry
Bridget is a 3L from Rochester Hills, Michigan and is a captain/oralist on the John Marshall IT Moot Court Competition Team. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan where she majored in Economics and English. During the summer following her first year of law school, Bridget worked in Lansing as a law student assistant at the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation. Last summer, Bridget worked in Washington, D.C. as a law student intern for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in the Office of the General Counsel's Appellate Litigation Group.
Brian Davis
Brian Davis came to Michigan State University after a ten year career in public education. There, he taught high school social studies, coached basketball and served as an Assistant Principal. Upon arriving at Michigan State University, he immediately got involved in the MSU Moot Court program, placing first in the all school competition and being awarded best cross and direct examination. He has since competed in the Buffalo-Niagara Competition and the American Association of Justice Tournament. Currently he is preparing for the William Daniel Competition held in Atlanta this fall. Complimenting his trial advocacy education is his membership in the The Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Program where he enjoys learning trial advocacy from local practitioners. Brian is also a member of the Black Law Student Association and is currently serving as the 2010 Graduating Class President.
Andrew Davis
Andrew is a third year law student on the Moot Court Board. He is the Team Captain for our William Daniel team that will travel to Atlanta in November to compete. During previous semesters, he competed in the AAJ Chicago Regional and the Buffalo/Niagara tournament. At Buffalo/Niagara our team advanced to the top 16 teams while Andrew received the Best Overall Advocate Award. Aside from Moot Court, Andrew works as a research assistant to Professor Frank Ravitch, and he works at the Law Offices of Andrew L. Goldstein.
Sarah Elkins
Sarah Elkins is a 3L from West Bloomfield, Michigan. She graduated with a degree in Women's Studies and Criminal Justice from the University of Michigan. Sarah has worked for Lakeshore Legal Aid, Washtenaw County Public Defender's Office, State Appellate Defender's Office, and the Federal Defender's Office. She is planning a career in public defense. At school, Sarah has served on the board of the Student Bar Association, American Constitution Society, Public Interest Society, and the Trial Advocacy Society. Her interests include movies, ping-pong, horseback riding, and long walks on the beach.
Katherine Hegg
Katherine Hegg is a graduate of Florida State University with degrees in International Business and Marketing. Since 2002, she has been an active duty officer in the United States Marine Corps. Katherine has spent her law school summers with the Navy and Marine Corps Criminal Court of Appeals and Marine Corps trial section at Marine Corps base Quantico. After graduation, she will continue to serve in the military and be a Judge Advocate.
Victoria Hyde
Victoria graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2007. She is a third year law student currently pursuing both a certificate in the Trial Practice Institute and a concentration in Criminal Law. Victoria is currently clerking for Hay & O'Rourke in Lansing, Michigan. She is currently the National Trial Advocacy Competition Director for the 2009 competition.
Lindsey Kaczmarek
Lindsey is a 3L and currently serves as the appellate brief writer for the Emory Civil Rights and Liberties Competition team. She is from Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Psychology. Before coming to law school, Lindsey worked at the Mayo Clinic and the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota as a clinical research associate. This summer, she clerked at Sinas Dramis, Brake, Boughton & McIntyre, P.C., and is currently the Teaching Assistant for the Moot Court Appellate Class and a member of the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Program. In her free time, she likes playing sports (particularly volleyball), watching sports (particularly football), and spending time outdoors. She also enjoys traveling back home to see her family and friends.
Jared C. Kosin
Jared is a 3L from Richland, Michigan who was the brief writer for the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition in Brooklyn, NY. Jared grew up just outside of Chicago, IL and attended the University of New Hampshire where he majored in English and went on to get his Masters in Business Administration. During undergrad, Jared spent a semester abroad with the Sea Education Association, sailing over 3,000 nautical miles in the Pacific Ocean aboard a 134-foot brigantine tall-ship. Jared started law school part time while working for two years in the Michigan Senate as a policy advisor in the Senate Majority Policy Office. He spent his summer at Warner Norcross & Judd in Grand Rapids, Michigan and ended the summer with an incredible vacation to Alaska. Outside of school, Jared likes playing golf, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying the outdoors.
Sam Mass
Samuel H. Mass is the Executive Director of the Trial side of the Moot Court & Trial Advocacy Board. He is from Metro-Detroit, and attended Michigan State University, where he received his B.A. in Economics. As a student at the MSU College of Law, Sam has served as the Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper, Res Ipsa Loquitur, is a member of the Journal of Business and Securities Law, and has also been a member the Student Bar Association. He has worked for the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, and also served as a judicial intern to Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly of the Michigan Supreme Court.
Lucas Myers
Lucas is a 3L from Hudson, WI and is currently the captain and an oralist for the Pepperdine Entertainment Law Competition in Malibu, CA. Lucas is a former National Merit Scholar, US Senate Youth Scholar, and Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholar. He attended Arizona State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Political Science. Next, he worked for over two years as a liability adjuster in Canton, OH. Upon being promoted to senior liability adjuster, Lucas accepted a full-tuition King Scholarship to attend the Michigan State University College of Law. There, he is also a member of the Michigan State Law Review and the only member of his class to participate in both moot court and law review. During his last two summers, he worked for the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of the Solicitor in Washington, DC. In his free time, Lucas enjoys traveling, watching movies, playing poker, politics, and spending time with his friends.
Nicholas A. Passalacqua
Nick was born and raised in Utica, New York. Nick graduated from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. During his time there Nick played four years of Division-1 football, while earning a dual degree in Finance and Sport Management. While in Connecticut Nick also interned with Douglas J. Lilly J.D., a certified NFL, CFL and AFL agent, assisting him with recruitment and marketing of future NFL players. Nick has clerked with several legal professionals in the central New York area, most notably the Hon. Robert F. Julian and the Hon. Bernadette T. Romano, justices to the New York State Supreme Court. Aside from being a member of the Moot Court and Trial Advocacy Board, Nick is a member of the Trial Practice Institute and is also pursuing a concentration in criminal law.
Joshua Patrick
Josh is a 3L from Mundelein, Illinois and is currently competing as an Oralist in the 2009 John Marshall Law School Information and Technology Competition in Chicago. He has previously served as In-House Counsel for the 2009 Robert F. Wagner National Labor & Employment Law Competition in New York as well as a stint as Membership Director of the MSU chapter of the American Constitution Society. Josh currently interns for Legal Services of South Central Michigan and has also interned for the City of Chicago Corporation Counsel's Office as well as the Honorable Judge Daniel Zemaitis of Michigan's 17th Circuit. Prior to law school, Josh earned a B.A. in Political Science-Prelaw from Michigan State University. After completing law school, Josh plans on moving back to Illinois and in his spare time enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to concerts and sporting events, and keeping active in politics.
Cristina Patzelt
Cristina is a 3L from Bloomfield Hills, MI. Currently she serves as an Oralist for the Civil Rights and Liberties Moot Court Competition Team, held at Emory Law School. Last spring she was as an Oralist on the Robert F. Wagner National Labor & Employment Law Moot Court Competition Team at New York Law School. Cristina earned her bachelor's degree in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy from Michigan State University's James Madison College, and studied abroad at the University of Cambridge. Cristina has clerked for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office in Chicago, IL in their Sex Crimes Division, and for the firm of Oade, Stroud and Kleiman, P.C., here in East Lansing. Cristina is a member of the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute and plans to pursue a career in litigation. Cristina is an avid Spartan fan, and enjoys attending games, running, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.
Melinda Potmesil
Melinda graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with degrees in Anthropology and Marketing. She is currently pursuing a certificate in the Trial Practice Institute. Melinda is also member of the Moot Court & Trial Advocacy Board. Over the past summer she interned with the St. Charles Prosecutor's Office and plans on practicing in the area of criminal law.
Matt Scarfone
Matt is a 3L from Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University in 2007, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Prelaw Interdisciplinary Studies. Matt participated as a brief writer and oral advocate at the 2009 Dean Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence Competition at Brooklyn Law School, where the team took first place. Currently, he is the brief writer for the 2009 John Marshall Law School Information Technology and Privacy Law Competition in October. In 2008, Matt was an extern at the Michigan Court of Appeals, Pre-hearing Research Division, and last summer he worked as a summer associate at Kerr, Russell and Weber PLC in Detroit.
Nicole Schuppner
Nicole is a 3L and currently serves as an Oralist for the Wechsler Constitutional Law Competition in Washington D.C.. Nicole received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Architecture from Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois. She has externed with the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Lansing City Attorney's Office. She is currently a law clerk for Sinas, Dramis, Brake, Boughton & McIntyre in Lansing. Nicole is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Medicine and Law and President of the Women's Law Caucus.
Sarah Stempky
Sarah is a 3L from Cheboygan, Michigan, and graduated from Alma College in 2005. She currently serves as an advocate for the William Daniel Trial team, and was a member of the Texas Young Lawyers Team in Spring 2009. In addition to being a member of the Moot Court & Advocacy Board, Sarah is also pursuing a certificate in the Trial Practice Institute. Sarah is also a member of the Arbitration competition team. For almost a year, Sarah has been clerking at Gursten, Koltonow, Gursten, Christensen & Raitt, P.C. in Southfield, Michigan. Outside of school, Sarah enjoys playing basketball, soccer, riding horses, and spending time with family and friends.
Philip Trampe
Philip is a 3L from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double major in Legal Studies and Spanish. Philip is currently serving as a captain and oral advocate for the Emory University School of Law Civil Rights and Liberties Moot Court Competition in Atlanta. During his summers in law school, Philip has clerked for Murphy, Paulson, & Murphy SC as well as the Honorable William Brash III of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. He enjoys playing sports, traveling, and watching the Green Bay Packers in his free time.
Jay Tubergen
Jay Tubergen graduated from Grand Valley State University with a major in Liberal Studies. Jay's emphasis was in "Human Understanding, Development, and Action." He is currently pursuing a trial certificate in the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute. Jay is also on the Moot Court and Trial Advocacy Board. Jay will graduate in the Spring of 2010 with a concentration in Criminal Law. For the Fall 2009 Semester, he is a competing member at the Buffalo/Niagara Competition. During Jay's 1L summer, he worked for the Kent County Prosecutor's Office representing the State of Michigan in criminal proceedings. During Jay's 2L summer, he worked for the Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office through the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan. During his free time, Jay likes to play sports and spend time with his wife, Stacey.
Emily Whitney
Emily is a 3L originally from Indianapolis, IN, but has lived in Seattle, Washington, for the last eight years. She graduated from Purdue University with a major in English Education and a minor in Special Education. After graduating, she taught English in Indianapolis for one year, then moved to Seattle and taught high school special education for seven years. In the spring of 2009, Emily was an in-house counsel for the Wagner moot court team. She is currently the Executive Director of the moot court board. Emily externed for the 30th Circuit Court Family Court during her 1L summer and is currently a law clerk for the Michigan Education Association. After graduation Emily plans to pursue a career in education law. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband, sailing, and traveling.