Team Green attorney McKenzie Allen directing her witness, Adam Gilles, as their coach, Grant Garber, presides.
The Ohio University Mock Trial teams have each been preparing a case for trial in anticipation of the OSU Scarlet & Gray Invitational at the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in Columbus, Ohio on Oct. 15-16.
Ohio University Mock Trial consists of two teams—Green Team and White Team—each composed of 10 students. Each student was required to tryout for the team. The organization provides students with an interest in law with the valuable experience of working with and preparing a case in a competitive courtroom setting.
The teams are required to prepare a case for trial that they are provided by the American Mock Trial Association. This year, more than 600 teams from 350 colleges and universities in the United States will participate in AMTA’s tournaments. Each team member is assigned a part as either an attorney or a witness. Attorneys are required to develop a case theory, as well and writing direct and cross examination questions, creating opening statements and closing arguments, as well as learning the case law and rules of evidence. Witnesses are given the task of creating a character from the case and working with their attorney to develop their character and testimony.
OHIO Mock Trial’s two teams will both compete in four different trials. Each will have two trials on Saturday, Oct. 15, and Sunday, Oct. 16. Each side of the case, plaintiff and the defense, will perform twice.
Team White attorney Kareem Dixon directing his witness, Tim Schilling.
The Scrimmage
In order to prepare for the OSU Scarlet & Gray invitational, the two teams participated in a scrimmage against one another on Thursday, Oct. 6. Athens County Court of Common Pleas Judge McCarthy generously allowed the organization to use his courtroom at the Athens Court of Common Pleas.
“I feel like this is a great experience that’s going to be conducive for how we proceed from here on,” remarked Kasiem Medley, a junior with a double major in History Pre-Law and Economics. “I’m very grateful for Judge McCarthy giving us his courtroom to practice.”
Alexa Jesser, a junior double majoring in Psychology and Political Science, expanded on Medley’s statement. “Tonight was our chance to practice both of our trials all the way through before invitationals. Everyone did a great job and I’m really happy with the progress we’ve all made.”
“When it comes to getting everything in order, getting all of the kinks out…tonight was super helpful for people to figure out what needs to be done,” Zak Frank, a junior in Political Science, remarked.
Noah Allen, a junior with a major in Philisophy Pre-Law , stated how this scrimmage made him feel optimistic about the invitational: “I feel like it exposed a lot of things we need to work on. And because of that, I feel like we’re going to do really well!”
A sophomore double major in Economics and Business Pre-Law, Katie Belle Neumann, echoed his optimism: “I’m nervous, but I’m excited because I have a supportive team with great energy!”
Nylah Mustafa, a freshman in Political Science Pre-Law, ended the night with the comment:”It’s time to buckle down; it’s time to get serious.”
The team is coached by 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, in part, with the support of the Ohio University College of Arts & Sciences and by the Ohio University Student Senate Appropriations Commission.
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