Prosecution team members seated L-R Taryn Osborne, Noah Allen, Elliott Smith, standing L-R Hazel Minich, Katie Belle Neuman, and Austen Burns
The Ohio University Mock Trial Team sent one team to the Franklin County Courthouse to compete in the OSU Scarlet and Gray Invitational. The competition took place on Oct. 20-21, 2017.
The team won five of the eight ballots at the regional and had several attorneys and witnesses that performed extremely well in the early-season tournament.
The invitational team consisted primarily of veteran members, but also featured one new team member, Sarah Horne, a freshman majoring in Journalism. The 10 members of the invitational team were subdivided into prosecution and defense teams with some students performing on both sides.
Each side competed in two trials across the weekend, for a total of four rounds. The team was scored by two judges in each trial. Judges are practicing attorneys, law students, or even actual judges.
Defense team members seated L-R, Gabrielle Tharp, Sarah Horne, Alexa Jesser, standing L-R Hazel Minich, McKenzie Allen, and Noah Allen
Members of the Ohio University Mock Trial Team are required to try out for the team in early September by performing both prepared and extemporaneous speeches. Ultimately, 30 students were selected to participate on the team during the 2017-18 school year. Members are assigned roles as attorneys, witnesses, or both. Attorneys are responsible for developing a case theory, writing direct and cross examinations, developing opening and closing statements, and preparing for objections with the rules of evidence. Witnesses are tasked with creating a character that is both entertaining and informative, as well as working with their attorney to develop their direct examination and prepare for cross-examination.
More than 600 teams from 350 colleges and universities participate in American Mock Trial Association tournaments. This year, the case involves the trial of Dylan Hendricks, on trial for the attempted murder of Kerry Bell-Leon.
Ohio University Mock Trial competes in Columbus
Students who are on the team but not competing in the round were required to observe one day of trials to acquaint them with a mock trial tournament and learn about trial presentation.
Nick Concilla, a senior studying War & Peace and new Mock Trial member reflected on the trial, “I was happily surprised by the excitement and emotion that we got to experience at the mock trial invitational.”
Gabrielle Tharp, a junior studying Political Science and History and a Mock Trial veteran added, “Participating in the tournament was a lot of fun, and we were really pleased with our performance given that we only had three weeks to prep a whole case! It was also a great way for new members to get introduced with how Mock Trial works before participating in an actual trial.”
Pre-Law Specialist Larry Hayman of the Ohio University Center for Law, Justice & Culture along with Associate General Counsel Grant Garber coach the team.
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