University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law unveiled its newly constructed, state-of-the-art courtrooms, classroom and lobby spaces for students to hone their advocacy skills in a realistic and immersive setting.
The renovation was made possible by $4.9 million in donated funds as part of the ongoing school’s “A New Day in Court” advocacy initiative.
Marc Miller, dean of University of Arizona Law, said the spaces will shape the students’ education and future.
Launched in 2017, the project’s new spaces represent the first major phase of the initiative, which includes renaming the program to the Thomas Mauet Advocacy Program, in honor of trial expert Thomas Mauet who directed the program until his retirement in 2016.
The new courtroom is now known as the Kevin R. Boyle Courtroom after Kevin Boyle (Class of 1997) and features professional-grade presentation and recording and streaming capabilities.
The addition of a 12-seat jury box and witness stand creates an authentic courtroom environment, while the 50-seat viewing gallery offers ample space for peers, faculty and visitors to observe proceedings.
Just off the courtroom lies the Snell & Wilmer Jury Conference Room, a new dual-purpose jury deliberation/conference room with professional audiovisual equipment, allowing students to observe deliberations.
The adjacent appellate courtroom, newly named J. Michael Hennigan Courtroom, will function as a traditional courtroom and an interactive classroom, including a judge’s bench that seats up to five judges and a 36-seat viewing gallery.
The flexible design accommodates moot court sessions, appellate hearings and a variety of instructional activities.
The renovated Schmidt, Sethi & Akmajian Lobby includes study areas with a view of both courtrooms thanks to the floor-to-ceiling wall of smart glass that shifts from transparent to opaque with the touch of a button.
The Boyle Family Bear Down Room will serve as a group workspace, where students can engage in collaborative learning.
The initiative now has plans to raise additional funds to support an endowed chair of advocacy, an endowed professorship and an endowment fund for student experiential advocacy activities such as travel to trial competitions.
