On July 7, 2026, our partner, John LoTurco, returned to Touro Law School to deliver a four-hour guest lecture on criminal trial advocacy. A former coach of the Touro Law School Mock Trial Team, Mr. LoTurco shared his experience as a seasoned criminal defense attorney by focusing on one of the most important aspects of trial practice- the preparation and delivery of persuasive closing arguments.
The lecture centered on the widely known case of Dixie Shanahan, an Iowa woman convicted of Second-Degree Murder after shooting her husband, Scott Shanahan. The case presented students with complex legal and factual issues involving claims of self-defense, prolonged domestic violence, and the difficult strategic challenges faced by the defense. Evidence presented at trial showed that Ms. Shanahan endured years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband, who had allegedly threatened to kill both her and their unborn child on the day of the shooting. At the same time, the defense was confronted with the significant hurdle that Ms. Shanahan did not report the shooting and concealed her husband's body for more than a year before it was discovered by law enforcement.
After reviewing the complete trial, which is publicly available through Court TV and YouTube, Mr. LoTurco walked the students through how he would have approached the defense and how he would craft a compelling closing argument based on the evidence presented at trial. Students then presented their own closing arguments and received individualized critiques and strategic feedback designed to sharpen their courtroom advocacy skills.
Mr. LoTurco has long been committed to mentoring aspiring trial lawyers. In addition to coaching Touro Law School's Mock Trial Team, he served as head coach of the Huntington High School Mock Trial Team from 2015 through 2025. Under his leadership, Huntington captured three Suffolk County Championships and earned two second-place finishes and one third-place finish at the New York State Mock Trial Tournament, competing against more than 400 teams statewide. During his tenure, Huntington was widely recognized as the top-performing public school mock trial program in New York.
Continuing his dedication to developing future advocates, Mr. LoTurco and fellow attorney Xavier Palacios, annually sponsor the LoTurco & Palacios Oral Advocacy Scholarship, recognizing Huntington High School students who demonstrate exceptional skill and promise in public speaking and oral advocacy. This year, four Huntington High School students were awarded $2,000 scholarships each.
We are proud of Mr. LoTurco's continued commitment to educating the next generation of trial attorneys and helping students develop the advocacy skills that are essential to the pursuit of justice.