April 10, 2012
Norwood to receive first moot court alumnus honor
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A federal prosecutor who was part of a moot court team that finished fourth in the nation is the inaugural recipient of the Southern Illinois University School of Law Moot Court Distinguished Alumnus Award.
George A. Norwood, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, will be recognized later this week for his career, his performance while on the moot court, and his work with both moot court and trial advocacy students at the law school. Norwood will receive the award during ceremonies honoring current moot court participants at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 12, at SIU’s Stone Center.
“I am very pleased and honored to be the recipient of the Moot Court Distinguished Alumnus Award,” Norwood said. “The Southern Illinois University School of Law has always displayed excellence in their moot court program. The moot court program was very instrumental in my legal education, and I’m always willing to help law students with their moot court presentations.”
A 1992 graduate of the SIU School of Law, Norwood was a member of the law school’s American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition team that advanced to the final rounds before finishing fourth in 1991. Norwood has been with the U.S. Attorney’s Office since August 1998, including time as chief of the office’s criminal division. He also currently serves the law school as an adjunct professor where he teaches a class in trial advocacy.
Norwood was an assistant dean for admissions and student affairs at the law school from August 1997 to August 1998. His background also includes working as an associate in the employment litigation and employee benefits sections for Indianapolis-based Ice Miller, LLP., formerly Ice Miller Donadio & Ryan. Norwood was also a law clerk for federal Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr., of the Northern District of Indiana.
The law school’s Moot Court Board, which consists of 24 second- and third-year students, will present the award.
In addition to his current teaching duties and mentoring of students, Norwood spends many hours judging moot court competitions at the law school, said Cheryl L. Anderson, law professor and faculty adviser to the Moot Court Board.
“As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, George has developed a reputation for integrity and professionalism that we hope to see our current students emulate in their own careers,” Anderson said. “George epitomizes the high level of achievement that is characteristic of students who participate in moot court while in law school, as well as their continuing commitment to the excellence of the moot court program and the Law School, in general. Without the participation of alumni like George, we would not be able to maintain the high quality of our moot court program.”
Norwood is also co-host of the weekly television show, “InFocus,” on WSIU Public Television. Norwood earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago.