The Stetson University College of Law team of Elise Engle, LaMark McGreen, Grace Samarkos and Megan Tiralosi won the Chester Bedell Mock Trial Competition on Jan. 23-25 in Tampa, Florida. This year, Stetson won the competition for the 23rd time in 37 years. A Stetson team won the inaugural Chester Bedell competition in 1983.

The Trial Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar conducts the prestigious competition for mock trial teams from across the state annually, and the final round of competition is presided over by distinguished members of the judiciary. 

“Stetson has historically set the bar high for excellence in trial advocacy,” said Professor of Excellence in Trial Advocacy Charles Rose. “Our legacy of success with the Chester Bedell competition is a point of pride for our students and alumni.” 

Samarkos, a member of this year’s award-winning team, is the daughter of Charles Samarkos J.D. ’89, who won the Chester Bedell competition when he was a student at Stetson.

Stetson Law 2016 alumni Brandon and Lara Breslow co-coached the team.

A second Stetson team of JD Arnett, Olivia Bergert, Blake Fromang and Justine Roof made it to the semi-final round.

Fromang is the son of Stetson Law alumna Jennifer Eden J.D. ’90, who won Chester Bedell several times when she was a student.

Stetson’s program in trial advocacy is nationally ranked no. 1 by U.S. News & World Report. To learn more about the advocacy program, visit stetson.edu/law/advocacy.

–Brandi Palmer