Bv V. LAVERL CHRISTENSEN Scripps League Wrlter An “American Inns of Court” pilot project – designed to help train law students in a non-academic setting, hone skills of trained lawyers. and generally strengthen processes of justice i is underway in Utah. with units functioning at Provo and Salt Lake City, The program. established as a result of a suggestion by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger. came into public focus Tuesday night when the Provo Inn staged a mock “mini-trial” in the South Courtroom. The proceedings and verdict will be discussed at the groups April meeting. Presiding at the trial was U, S District Judge A. Sherman Christensen former Provoan now of Salt Lake City who serves as chairman of the lntcr-Organizational Council of American Inns of Courts and has guided the pilot program from its inception The project is positioned between the organized bar and law schools of Brigham Young University and the University of Utah “Aininncourt I” was organized and its charter adopted at Provo Feb, 12. 1980 on Burgers suggestion to then BYU President Dallin H Oaks rnow justice of the Utah Supreme Courtl and ‘Y’ Law School Dean Rex E. Lee inow solicitor general of the United Statesi for an experimental pilot program. Berger. incidentally. also proposed the “Aminncourt” acronym to conveniently designate the program. Ray R. Christensen of Salt Lake City serves as president and Chief Judge Aldon J Anderson of the District of Utah is counselor of Aminncourt I which serves students from BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School and young attornevs of the Provo area. M. Dayle Jelfs of Provo is secretaryjtreasurer. This Inn is funded bythe BYU law school. Aminncourt Il was organized in February 1981 with the cooperation of Judge David K. Winder of the District of Utah and Walter E. Oberer and Ronald N. Boyce. dean and professor respectively of the U. of U. law school. Carman Kipp of Salt Lake City is president of the unit. with Harold G. Christensen counselor and Stephen Nebeker secretary – treasurer. Judge Winder provides the Inu’s liaison with the courts. This unit was organized to test the concept of multiple Inns and serve the U of U, law students and young trial lawyers of the Salt Lake area, It is funded by the Utah Bar Foundation. A personal injury damage suit was the basis for the mock trial at Provo Tuesday night in which Jackson B. Howard of Provo and Ralph L, Dewsnup of Salt Lake City served as lawyers for the plaintiff. Attorneys Ray R. Christensen of Salt Lake City and Ray H. Ivie of Provo represented the defendant. A lury was impaneled consisting of Eloise S. Morley Paul A. Thorn Virginia H. Riggs Mark K. Allen. Phyllis Allen. Alonzo J. Morley. Lols H. Christensen Elaine Meredith. Madge J. Thorn, Donald Riggs and Leo Meredith. To limit the trial to two hours. testimony was by deposition and speaking was limited to the lawyer presentations and summations which were eloquent at times. A “jury” of student and lawyer members also voted secretly. Responses will be analyzed at the April meeting of the Inn together with results of “settlement negotiations” conducted by two sets of counsel at a previous meeting. In both American: Inns of the Court experienced trial attomeys. younger practitioners students and federal and state judges participate in monthly demonstrations and critiques a “pupillage system.” and related activities. Judge Christensen says the program has brought “remarkable response” and the attendance record at meetings has been “little short of phenomenal.” One surprising development he comments has been the transformation of an initial concept that the benefits were pretty much limited to students and young lawyers. “Now the participants have come to realize that the sharing of ideas. ideals and experiences on a continuing basis among these groups and the seasoned federal and state judges and lawyers ls of vital interest and value to all. promotes their mutual development. and strengthens the processes of justice generally.” Some of the ideas embodied into the Ammlnncourt program are adaptations from the English Inns of the Court which have been studied firsthand by Judge Christensen. Except for “masters of the bench” who are permanent members of the Inns membership is on a revolving basis with students and attorneys moving through the programs yearly. The Inns do not seek to duplicate either law school training or continuing legal education programs.,says Judge Christensen. “They are designed to provide a unique method of developing insights and inspirations through demonstrations of various aspects of the trial process.” Free and frank critiques and “rap sessions” result in a beneficial amalgam of viewpoints. he adds. The very first of numerous purposes of the Inns cited in the diarter is “to unite a cross-section of the bar into a forum for promotion of excellence in legal advocacy as an institution and as an individual capability.” The Inter-Organization Council of American Inns of Court which Christensen heads includes the presidents and counselors of existing Inns. The council will provide a sample charter and other material to those interested in organizing Inns in other states,