Kings of Queens: Chicago-Kent Trial Advocacy Team Takes Gold in New York

A team from Chicago-Kent College of Law took first place in the Queens County (New York) District Attorney’s Office’s 10th Annual Mock Trial Competition the weekend of March 9–10, 2025.

John Travlos ’26, Aidan Boyle ’26, Kathryn Connors ’26, and Allyson Weubbe ’26 beat out 17 other nationally ranked law schools to take the top prize for the first time at the competition, which was held in the Queens Criminal Court in New York. Judges from the New York Supreme and Criminal courts presided over the immersive and highly realistic proceedings, while senior prosecutors and members of the defense bar judged the competitors.

Connors and Weubbe acted as prosecutors, defeating William and Mary School of Law in the first round. As prosecutors, Travlos and Boyle took out Emory University School of Law, Fordham University School of Law, the University of Houston Law Center, and Pace University Elisabeth Haub School of Law in four consecutive rounds.

In addition to winning first place as a team, Boyle also won the Best Oral Advocate award for the final round.

The team was coached by Rachael Sinnen ’11, Warren Fasone ’18, and Madeleine Fontenot ’24.

Chicago-Kent’s trial advocacy program was ranked #12 in the country by U.S. News &and World Report in its 2024 rankings. The program was first established in 1971 by the Honorable Warren D. Wolfson, a former Illinois Appellate Court justice, and is currently run by David A. Erickson, also a retired Illinois Appellate Court justice.

Photo: provided