West Long Branch, NJ- Monmouth University’s Mock Trial (MUMT) team competed in their first invitational tournament this past weekend, the Market Street Invitational Tournament, hosted by Drexel University. The invitational involved 26 teams from 16 universities.
The students competed in four rounds (twice as plaintiffs and twice as defendants) in a mock civil case involving the unfortunate accidental shooting of an 11-year-old by her friend. Students in attorney roles represented the parents in this fictitious case of Park v. Duran; other students played challenging witness roles ranging from the next-door neighbor, clinical child psychologists and the parties (parents) themselves!
Monmouth’s team finished the tournament with one of the highest Combined Strength scores, which means MUMT competed against some of the highest ranked teams. In each round, MUMT had at least one attorney and, witness rank in the top two. Co-captain Iziah Thompson finished the tournament with 16 out of a possible 20 ranks for his defense attorney role, and veteran team member Stephen Lang finished with 14 at of a possible 20 ranks for his portrayal of the defendant child who allegedly caused the accidental shooting.
The competition was one of several fall semester invitationals offered to prepare students for the competitive American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) tournament structure starting in February of 2015. The team will next compete at the Third Annual “Hooter” Invitational hosted by Temple University on November 15 and 16.
The team, under the auspices of the Monmouth Pre-Law Club, is happy to announce the hosting of Monmouth’s own invitational mock trial tournament — the First Annual Jersey Shore “Hawk” Invitational, the weekend of Dec. 6 and 7. In only its third year, the mock trial team has grown enough to host its own invitational, and student interest in intercollegiate legal forensic competition has facilitated this growth and demand.
Confirmed teams from as far as Minnesota and Florida will be visiting the Jersey Shore for the invitational. The tournament will be a 2-2 format with two rounds on Saturday and two rounds on Sunday with an awards ceremony following the fourth round on Sunday.
Students are encouraged to contact Professor Bordelon if they are interested in competing or getting more information about Monmouth’s mock trial or moot court programs. No experience is necessary except a passion for advocacy! Join any one of Monmouth’s intercollegiate forensic competitions and learn important career skills while meeting future professional colleagues and lifelong friends. Regular practice is on Monday evenings in the library (second floor classroom) starting at around 8:15 p.m.
Monmouth alums in the legal field are invited to help us continue to reach the goals of Monmouth legal studies students! Any alumni interested in assisting with the mock trial or moot court teams are welcomed to contact Greg Bordelon in the Political Science and Sociology department (bordelon@monmouth.edu)
PHOTO COURTESY of Gregory Bordelon
