Ohio University Team Green Prosecution cross-examining a witness for Ohio University Team White Defense at Athens County Courthouse. Athens County Common Pleas Judge George McCarthy presided.
The Ohio University Mock Trial Team competes in the regional American Mock Trial Association contest at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in Pennsylvania on Feb. 26-28.
The Ohio University Mock Trial Team is a new interdisciplinary student organization made up of 19 students interested in law and the legal system. Prospective team members are required to try out for the team, and membership is selective.
Through competition, practice, meetings, and lectures, Mock Trial provides students with a rewarding co-curricular learning experience that better prepares them for professional careers.
Students have been working since early fall to prepare the case for competition. Participants are required to review the case materials and develop a case theory, and they are ultimately assigned roles as attorneys and witnesses.
“I got involved with Mock Trial because I was interested in the public speaking opportunities and in learning more about the legal system,” said Alyssa Alcorn, a senior Political Communication major. “I hoped it would help me decide whether or not I wanted to attend law school in the future.”
Casey Tisdale, a junior double major in Psychology and Sociology-Criminology who is also pursuing a Law, Justice & Culture certificate, noted, “I am really drawn to the competitive nature of the organization. Mock Trial has taught me how to manage time and how to read everything carefully. A small detail leaning one way or the other is definitely integral. Mock Trial is also teaching me how to work with a team and be able to rely on other people when a job needs done–a trait that will help reduce some stress for group projects in college.”
Her comments were echoed by Sarah Welch, a senior Music major in the Honor’s Tutorial College who is also pursuing a Law, Justice & Culture certificate, who said, “The analytical and improvisatory nature of competition, in the context of a team, is what makes Mock Trial so great. The focus on analysis, writing, and presentation skills have taught me valuable capabilities that will serve me in law school and beyond!”
Finally, sophomore in Communications Alyssa Stegmaier, added, “I was in theater, so I like the aspect of creating a character to testify on the witness stand. My favorite part of Mock Trial, though, is the rhetoric. It is so much fun to think and discuss a case with other students and strategize how to win!”
The Scrimmage
On Jan. 24, Mock Trial members had a recent scrimmage against one another at the Athens County Courthouse with Judge George McCarthy presiding.
“It’s a great program, and I’m impressed,” McCarthy told the ambitious students. He recalled his experiences with Mock Trial and his excitement that the university had finally created a team. “Our high school had a good Mock Trial program, and I’m surprised it took so long for us to start one here at Ohio University. But I’m very impressed and very excited to see where this program will go.”
OHIO Mock Trial has two separate teams: Team White and Team Green. Each will have one trial on Friday, Feb. 26, two on Saturday, Feb. 27, and one on Sunday Feb. 28. Each side of the case, defense and prosecution, will perform twice.
The team is coached by Ohio University Pre-Law Specialist Larry Hayman of the Ohio University Center for Law, Justice & Culture and Associate General Counsel Grant Garber. The team’s attendance at the competition is made possible by the College of Arts & Sciences, the departments of History, Political Science, Sociology & Anthropology, and Psychology, the Center for Law, Justice & Culture, School of Journalism, School of Communication Studies, School of Media Arts & Studies, Ohio University Student Senate Appropriations Commission, and from generous alumni contributions.
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