Mock Trial Team builds reputation at tournaments
November 18, 2010
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UNA’s Mock Trial Team placed third out of 34 teams in the Mid-South
Invitational Tournament last Friday and Saturday night at Middle
Tennessee State University, according to Cody Wix, the Mock Trial
Team’s president.
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In the four-round tournament, team one beat Southern Methodist,
Mississippi Valley and Middle Tennessee State University. They only
lost to South Carolina’s team, which went on to win the tournament.
UNA’s Mock Trial Team two beat Whitenburg College and Fresno State
in the tournament.
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“UNA has had a name for great mock trials teams in the past,” said
Wix. “We want to recapture that, and show that the size of a school
doesn’t matter when it comes to intelligence.” Wix has been with
the team since 2008, and has seen a rise in team members and in the
ability of the students involved in mock trials. According to Wix,
the trials carry on like a trial in real life or as seen in a show
like “Law & Order.”
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Last weekend’s tournament was the Mock Trial Team’s third of the
fall semester, following two-round tournaments at St. Louis
University Nov. 6 and at Quincy University in Illinois before that.
At the St. Louis tournament, team two took fourth place and beat
St. Louis University. At the Quincy University tournament, Cody Wix
and Mickel Magness won attorney awards for best plaintiff/defendant
and best defense attorney. Team two placed third overall at the
Quincy University tournament.
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The teams have two meets left in the regular season of mock trials,
with both tournaments meeting in January. The regional for mock
trials will meet in February, and if the teams win there, they can
make it to the national tournament, according to UNA’s mock trial
adviser Tim Collins.
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“The mock trials are more than just competition,” said Collins.
“The goal in this is to learn.” Collins said that anyone could
participate in the mock trials, even those without an interest in
political science. In the past, several students joined the trials
because of an interest in acting, he said.
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“We have people who don’t plan to go to law school,” said Justin
Hill, a member of the team. Hill said the mock trials are an
excellent place for students to network with law professionals and
even other students. According to both Hill and Collins, the judges
of the mock trials are primarily made up of active attorneys and
actual city judges.
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“When it comes to mock trials, you’re looking at around a full-time
job,” said Wix about the amount of preparation needed for the
trials. “When you’re doing mock trials, the team becomes your
social life.”
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Time management and the sheer load of material needed to know are
what Wix says are the hardest parts of the trials, also
acknowledging that he spends many hours pouring over material.
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“The Federal Rules of Evidence become your Bible after a while,”
said Hill, in agreement with Wix.
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To get involved with the Mock Trial Team, contact Wix at
[email protected] or Collins at [email protected].
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The Mock Trial Team meets every Monday from 7-9 p.m. and Thursday
from 6-9 p.m. in GUC 200.