Department of Criminal Justice

News Release: Mock Trial Team Makes Mark at Regional Tournament

The Mock Trial program is an academic competition team that is a member of the American Mock Trial Association ("AMTA" - www.collegemocktrial.org). The program is sponsored by the School of Arts and Sciences and the Criminal Justice Department.

Background:
In August of each year, over 400 colleges and universities nationwide receive a case packet detailing an accident or crime committed in the fictional state of Midlands. All participating schools then spend the next five month preparing their team to litigate the case at competition. Students take on the roles of witnesses and attorneys and argue both sides of the case.

About the case:
The case itself alternates each year between violations of civil laws (ie. negligence) and violations of criminal laws (ie. murder). All cases include 1) affidavits or statements of eight to ten witnesses and experts, 2) various exhibits/evidence to be used in court, 3) relevant case law, and 4) the standard documents that actual trial attorneys use in the course of everyday litigation.

Recent Mock Trial cases have included acts such as: kidnapping for ransom, assault with a deadly weapon, vehicular manslaughter and a negligence action involving an airplane which crashed due to a defective fuel gauge.

Student Participation:
Students interested in Mock Trial come from all majors with various career goals and reasons for joining. The team is open to all students, including freshmen and those without experience or knowledge of the law.

There are no prerequisites for trying out for the mock trial team.
Prior mock trial experience is not required.
Prior debate or public speaking experience is not required.
Prior understanding of the law is not required.

Team Composition:
The Mock Trial team consists of nine students:
Three students serve as attorneys for the plaintiff or prosecution.
Three students serve as attorneys for the defendant.
Two students serve as witnesses on both sides of the case.
One student serves as an non-scoring member/emergency backup for the team.

Tryouts are held in August and all interested students are encouraged to express interest before that time. (contact information is included below).

The role of the students:
It is the duty of each team to put together interesting and persuasive cases for both the prosecution/plaintiff and defense. Teams are responsible for developing their own theories of the case and choosing relevant and unique themes that help win over a jury.

Attorneys prepare their own:
1) Opening statements,
2) Direct examinations of witnesses,
3) Cross examination of witnesses, and
4) Closing arguments.

Students will also be taught how to recognize objectionable questions and answers as well as how to make and argue objections in a court of law.

Students are taught to develop “lawyering” styles that cater to their individual strengths and allow them to be as personable as possible.

How does competition work?:
The case is distributed in August simultaneously to all participating schools. Students spend the next five months preparing for competition. That preparation includes scrimmages with other schools and preseason tournaments.

In February, the team competes against the top local schools at a regional tournament. There are currently 20 to 25 regional tournaments nationwide. The winners of the regional tournaments compete for the Mock Trial national championship.

Who is Mock Trial for?:
Mock Trial is not for everybody. It is a full-scale, intercollegiate, academic competition team that competes in the name of Iona College. There is a substantial time commitment involved.

Mock Trial provides valuable experience to anyone interested in political science, criminal justice, law or pre-law, public speaking, theatre or any other major offered by Iona College.

Mock Trial teaches students to develop their public speaking skills, to argue points concisely and persuasively and to have a commanding presence in even the most adverse circumstances. It is an environment where opinions are welcome and encouraged and where varying personalities are an asset. Team members learn how to think fast on their feet, adapt to changing situations and to be able to react to even the most unanticipated events in a calm and collected manner. The communication skills that are taught can be applied to a wide variety of careers and used professionally in many capacities.

Who coaches the Mock Trial team?:
Students are coached by experienced local trial attorneys.

Contact either Head Coach Adam Detsky (adetsky@iona.edu) or Dr. Paul O’Connell (poconnell@iona.edu) in the CRJ Department for more information.

When does the team practice/meet?:
The team meets once a week.
Tuesdays: 6:30pm – 10:00pm or
Saturdays: 10:00am – 2:00pm