Mock Trial Team builds reputation at tournaments

UNA students Mickel Magness (sitting) and Cody Wix (standing) argue a fictional case called “Davis Vs. Happyland Toy Company” Nov. 11 at their bi-weekly practice.

Jordan Bradley Staff Writer

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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.