Ohio University Mock Trial Announces 2018-19 Team Members

Members of the Mock Trial Team during competition in Columbus during 2017-18 school year.

The Ohio University Mock Trial Team selected 24 students to participate during the 2018-19 academic year.

Tryouts occurred on Sept. 12 and 13. Students were required to prepare and deliver a three-minute speech on a selected topic. At the conclusion of their prepared remarks, students were given a topic and required to deliver an extemporaneous speech. This year, students also were asked to become familiar with a witness statement so that students more interested in character development as witnesses would have an opportunity to display their skills. The Mock Trial Executive Board along with coach and attorney-adviser Larry Hayman worked to select students for the team.

“We are really excited about all of the talent that we have on the team this year. Tryouts were very competitive and we are looking forward to having a great season,” said Mock Trial Vice President Gabrielle Tharp, a senior Political Science and History major with a minor in World Religions.

This is the fourth year for the Ohio University Mock Trial Team, a student organization affiliated with the Center for Law, Justice & Culture. The team competes with other teams from 350 colleges in the American Mock Trial Association, including teams from Ohio State, Miami University, University of Dayton, Case Western Reserve University, and more.

Mock Trial is open to students from all majors and interests. Participation on the team helps students to develop public speaking skills, team building skills, critical thinking skills, and professionalism.

“I’m hoping that new members can gain confidence and independence, not only in the courtroom but outside as well. We have a lot of really strong leaders on our team and always have, so I really hope that they can continue that trend,” said Mock Trial President Taryn Osborne, a senior studying Political Science Pre-Law, with a minor in Spanish and a certificate in Law, Justice & Culture.

During a competition teams are asked to develop and present a case from witness statements and evidence. Team members act as both lawyers and witnesses to present direct examinations, cross examinations, opening statements, and closing statements.

Students selected for the 2018-2019 Mock Trial team are:

• Amal Afyouni, a senior studying Political Science and Criminology, with a minor in Economics and a certificate in Law, Justice & Culture
• Cole Brocklehurst, a first year student studying Philosophy, Pre-Law
• Diamond Brooks
• Ryan Crowley, a senior studying History and Political Science
• Michael Ferris, a first year student studying Communication
• David Giddens, a sophomore studying Political Science Pre-Law
• Ellen Gill, a first year student studying English Pre-Law
• Hailey Holbrook, a junior studying Political Science Pre-Law
• Alexis Karolin, a History HTC first year student
• Lillian Mattimoe, a sophomore Political Science Pre-Law and Criminology major with a certificate in Law, Justice & Culture
• Ashley Mager,  a senior majoring in Business Economics and Business Pre-Law
• Hayes Minich, a senior Psychology and Criminology student with a minor in Political Science
• Kiersten Mitchell, a junior Political Science Pre-Law student
• Merrie Mollenhauer, a sophomore History Pre-Law student
• Molly Moore, a first year student majoring in Political Science Pre-Law
• Katie Belle Neumann, a senior Business Pre-Law student
• Taryn Osborne, a senior studying Political Science Pre-Law, with a minor in Spanish and a certificate in Law, Justice & Culture
• Amanda Schenk, a sophomore studying Political Science Pre-Law
• Jada Sparks, a junior Political Science student with a certificate in Law, Justice & Culture
• Kristin Tate, a junior double majoring in Political Science and Criminology, with a certificate in Law, Justice & Culture
• Gabrielle Tharp, a Political Science and History major with a minor in World Religions
• Holly Thompson, a sophomore History Pre-Law student
• Lori Turner, a first year Political Science student
• Lydia Wendel, a sophomore majoring in Political Science Pre-Law, with a minor in Anthropology and a certificate in Law, Justice & Culture

The team will spend the next four weeks preparing for it’s first competition, the Scarlet and Grey Invitational, that will take place on October 27 and 29 in the Franklin County Courthouse.