WMU-Cooley's Grand Rapids campus mock courtroom was transformed into a real courtroom on Sept. 12, as U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Maloney heard dispositive motions in two substantial federal civil lawsuits, before a full gallery of law students.
"We are fortunate that judges like the Hon. Paul Maloney are committed to legal education and extend our students these opportunities," said WMU-Cooley professor Christopher G. Hastings. "One of the attorneys arguing his case told me after the hearing, ‘I wish my law school had done stuff like this.'"
WMU-Cooley has hosted multiple live judicial proceedings at its campuses for a number of years, including dockets scheduled from the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court.
"The law school is focused on a practical legal education," said Hastings. "Allowing students to see how their course work fits together in a real-life setting is not only educational, it's inspirational.”
Pictured (left-right) Erin Geschwendt, Matt Williams, Kris Johnson, Kristyna Nunzio, Hon. Paul L. Maloney, Mary Ann Simmering, Richard Perez, Ata Alaraj, Aric Kasel.
