SMU’s Mock Trial team is ready for another run at a national title after exceeding expectations during their inaugural year.
This is the team’s second year in existence and they have high expectations for what the 2005-2006 school year could hold for the Mock Trial team. Vice President Lauren Leahy said, “First and foremost we are looking to expand our membership. Last year, we had one team. This year we are looking to have at least three.”
As a brand new organization last year, the Mock Trial team surprised opponents when they beat seasoned teams, won six individual awards and exceeded the expectations of all of those involved at national competition.
“We were new, but we were serious. It was obvious that we had come to win, and we had come to win big,” said Leahy.
SMU’s Mock Trial team competes in the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) and won the Spirit of AMTA award last year, an award that honors professionalism and is given to only four teams out of the hundreds who participate.
When asked what he was most looking forward to this year, President Jay Bishop replied, “Because I started this team last year I definitely have a sense of ownership. I want to develop a program that is strong and will continue to benefit SMU long after I am gone. Since I’m graduating this year, I am most looking forward to educating the new members and making sure this is a solid thing that is going to continue to grow.”
Mock Trial competitions are based around a detailed case packet that is given to each team and describes the case that the team will be arguing either for or against. While explaining the trial process to those present at the meeting, Bishop said, “We are part actors, part debaters. One hundred percent Mock Trial.”
One of the biggest challenges of Mock Trial is that the team must prepare extensively for both sides of the case because which side they will argue is determined by the flip of a coin. Generally, each member of the team competes in each round, some as witnesses and others as attorneys.
The competitions consist of four rounds and which side the team will argue can change in each round. Every mock trial includes opening statements, witness testimony and closing statements. Each element of the round is scored on a scale of 1-10, and the competition is judged by lawyers, judges and law students. The team with the most points wins the competition.
Each competitive team consists of eight members. During the competitive season, which lasts from October through April, team members are expected to meet a minimum of twice a week.
The team is currently in the middle of clinics for new members. A skills assessment — mandatory for all new competing members — will be held Sept. 13-15 with individual times to be announced at a later date.
