ON THE RISE
MARCH 8, 2019: “TEAM
1441 DRAWS TEAM 1700.” teams and recognizes the team that exhibits outstanding
The announcement didn’t mean much to most of the teams perceived as easy to beat.
in the room—just another unequal pairing of Mock Trial
teams at a major tournament. A university that regularly
competed at the national level would play an unknown
team at their first major competition. It was expected to be
an easy pass for Team 1700 and bad luck for Team 1441.
professionalism, civility, decorum, and character.
In
addition, junior Norman Greenwell received one of nine
Outstanding Witness awards. Not bad for a team that was
Who was Team 1441? Stevenson University.
MOCK TRIAL AT
STEVENSON
The Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS) of
20 |
the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) competition Stevenson University’s Mock Trial program grew out of the
is the second of three levels of competition: Regionals, Legal Studies program, which included a Mock Trial ex-
ORCS, and Nationals. Any team can attend Regionals, but perience in its capstone course. Students were so excited
only the top teams from each region qualify for ORCS, about Mock Trial—and some had competition experience
and the top finishers there go on to Nationals. At ORCS, from high school—that they asked Melanie K. Snyder, Esq.,
each team is randomly paired during the draw at the start Professor of Law, to start a team. For the first year, the
of competition and then competes in four trials. The team didn’t compete. Then in 2013, they embarked upon
subsequent draws are determined, in part, by performance their first competition season. Snyder acknowledges that,
in the first round. As the pairings are announced, hundreds in the initial years, she was “learning along with the stu-
of competitors from dozens of universities wait to learn dents.”
which team they will play. The teams have studied each Mock Trial is a unique competition with a very specific
other, know each other’s rankings, and have best-case and set of rules and protocols. For instance, witness testimony
worst-case scenarios in mind—especially for that pivotal needs to match the affidavit exactly; actions require
first pairing. “permission to proceed”; participants must stand each time
Once pairings are announced, the team captains meet the judge enters the room (even if she or he has just stepped
and learn which witnesses will be chosen and which out briefly); and attorneys must request “permission to
evidence will be used. Then, teams have 30 minutes move about the well,” which refers to making use of the
to hone their strategy and prepare for competition. The space between the judge and the attorneys.
competition comprises the literal “mock trial,” which As the team learned more, they got better, and student
includes opening statements, direct and cross-examination interest grew. Snyder held tryouts, and participation
of three witnesses for the prosecution/plaintiff and three increased from one ten-member team to two teams, “A”
witnesses for the defense, and closing statements. Each and “B.” The addition of a second team allowed more
trial lasts three hours. One minute longer and everyone is students to participate and provided opportunities for
disqualified. Nobody wants that. students to join the Mock Trial program as freshmen and
Some teams might have been disheartened to face such a have several years to develop and hone their skills. The
competitive team in the opening round of their first ORCS 2019 B team includes six freshmen, two of whom, Marriah
appearance. They might have become flustered, doubted Boyd and Eric Williams, won top awards this season.
themselves, or performed poorly. Although the A team travels to more competitions, both
Team 1441 did none of those things. Team 1441 won. teams compete at Regionals, and the camaraderie between
They received a higher score from both presiding judges, the teams is essential for the Mock Trial program’s success.
and while they didn’t make it to Nationals (this year!), A partnership with the Mock Trial program at University
they received an Honorable Mention for the “Spirit of of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) emerged in 2016,
AMTA Award,” which is voted on by the participating and in 2016 and 2017, the two universities co-hosted the
VENTURES/SUMMER 2019