The Federal Court Bar Association’s Trial Advocacy Training Program, led by John Powers and Adam Katz, recently celebrated the graduation of its fourth annual class.
Twelve attorneys came to the Syracuse federal courthouse for the two-day program on September 9 and 10. They split into three teams and honed trial skills under the guidance of seasoned litigators and presented mock civil trials before Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr., United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, and United States Magistrate Judge Paul J. Evangelista.
The program began on September 2 with an evidence course, and in October participants will finish their training by attending the FCBA’s annual CLE, “Trying a Civil Rights Case.” Each graduate has agreed to handle either a trial-ready federal civil case on a pro bono basis or, if they qualify as Court-appointed CJA counsel, a criminal case, within one year of completing the program. Federal Public Defender Eric Schillinger spoke to the group on September 9 to provide a federal criminal practice overview, and the three attorneys who expressed interest in criminal trials will be participating in an additional day-long training in October.
One of the program’s co-founders, past FCBA President Adam Katz, stated, “John Powers deserves our thanks for the time and energy he has devoted to the program, and I am grateful to our volunteer faculty for the many hours they have given to our students. I also want to thank the students for taking the program seriously and for their commitment to serving the interests of justice through their pro bono work, as well as the Court for its continued support of the program.”
| Team | Plaintiff & Defense Counsel | Instructors & Witness |
| Team One | Plaintiff’s counsel: Reece Napierski, Amanda Miller Defense counsel: Anna Elizabeth Melo, Nathan Mattison | Instructors: Dan Rubin, Annaleigh Porter Witnesses: Gabriela Groman and Emily Cerio |
| Team Two | Plaintiff’s counsel: Brandon Khalil, Mari Perales Sanchez Defense counsel: Jeffrey Ehrhardt, Kegan Sheehan | Instructors: John Powers, Melissa Swartz, Danielle Neroni Witness: Adam Katz |
| Team Three | Plaintiff’s counsel: Tanner Froats, Allee von Stackelberg Defense counsel: Michael Annesi, Darienn Balin | Instructors: Michael Gadarian, Lisa Peebles Witness: Mary D’Agostino |