Published: Feb. 7, 2019

 Judge Jonathan Thacher, Judge Randy Bellows, Nicholas Monck ('19), Blaire Bayliss ('20), coach Ken Kupfner ('98), and Lauren Atzenbeck ('20).

A team of Colorado Law students won second place overall and took the title of Top Prosecution Team at this year’s John L. Costello National Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Competition, held Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 2019, in Fairfax, Virginia.

Colorado Law students Nicholas Monck ('19), Blaire Bayliss ('20), and Lauren Atzenbeck ('20) competed against 31 teams from law schools from across the nation. The team was coached by Ken Kupfner (’98), deputy district attorney at the Boulder County District Attorney's Office.

Hosted by the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, the Costello competition is designed to take participants outside the typical realms of law school competitions. By revealing unknown facts and witnesses as the competition progresses, the competition simulates the evolving and unexpected nature of real-life criminal trials.

Tessa Carberry ('19), Alan Bickings ('19), and Aven Rose (‘20), coached by Boulder County Chief Trial Deputy District Attorney Adrian Van Nice (‘01), also competed.

Pictured L-R: Judge Jonathan Thacher, Judge Randy Bellows, Nicholas Monck ('19), Blaire Bayliss ('20), coach Ken Kupfner ('98), and Lauren Atzenbeck ('20).