MOCK TRIAL

History

Team History

The Case Western Reserve Undergraduate Mock Trial Organization was founded and has been a participating member in the American Mock Trial Organization since August of 2000. It was founded by then CWRU law students Allen Hufford (J.D. 2002) and Adrienne Kirshner (J.D. 2002), who had participated in Mock Trial as undergraduates. In its first year of organization, two teams competed at the regional tournament in Toledo, Ohio. Team Case included witnesses Jason Haserodt, Rachael Dornbrook, and John Paul Teague, and attorneys Bryan Linkous, Kurt Mueller (who delivered the opening arguments), and Adam Nelson (who delivered closing arguments as well as served as team captain). Team Western Reserve was composed of witnesses Brian Horrocks and Alexia DeVincentis, attorneys T.J. McConnell (who gave the defense opening statement) and Jason Pieczonka (who delivered closing arguments and served as team captain), Andrew Roper (who, as an attorney for the plaintiff, delivered the opening and who also served as a defense witness) and Rebeka Fortess (who was a plaintiff witness and a defense attorney). As Team Case had a record of 1-7 and Team Western Reserve went 4-4, neither advanced to a national tournament, but Alexia DeVincentis was named an All Regional Witness and Team Case was presented with the Spirit of AMTA award for exemplifying civility, fair play, and justice.

In its second year, CWRU Mock Trial brought in a third CWRU law student to help coach, Tamia Collins (J.D. 2004). The organization also hosted its first tournament in October of 2001. The tournament lasted for one day, with two rounds and brought in teams from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Additionally, a team was also sent to compete at the St. Vincent College Invitational Tournament in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The Regional Tournament was again held in Toledo, and again, two teams were fielded. Team Mather included witnesses Rebeka Fortess, Maria Phillis, and Creagh Boulger, and attorneys Melissa Lee, Colin Wallace (who gave the opening statements), and Adam Nelson (who was team captain and who gave the closing arguments). The members of Team Wade were witnesses Samer Korkor, J.P. Teague, Devon Snook, and Joe Santinoceto, and attorneys Alexia DeVincentis (who gave the opening for the prosecution), Andrew Roper (who gave the opening for the defense), and Jason Pieczonka (who gave the closing arguments and was team captain). Adam Nelson was named an All Regional Attorney and both teams qualified for the American Tournament in St. Petersburg, Florida. Samer Korkor did not join Team Wade in St. Petersburg, so Rachael Dornbrook and Brian Horrocks were added as witnesses. At the tournament both Alexia DeVincentis and Colin Wallace were named All American Attorneys, Team Wade placed eighth and Team Mather placed fourth.

The following year the organization's second tournament was expanded to three days and four rounds and its location was moved from the CWRU Law School to the Justice Center downtown. This tournament attracted eighteen teams from Ohio , Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania. CWRU also sent teams to compete in tournaments held at St. Vincent College and Dayton University in preparation for the Regional Tournament, which had been moved to Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. Only one team attended Regionals, but this team qualified for the National Tournament in St. Paul, Minnesota. Members of this team included witnesses Maria Phillis, J.P. Teague, Nick Liaw, and Scott McMichael, attorneys Colin Wallace (who opened for the plaintiff, closed for the defense, and served as co-captain) and Adam Nelson (who opened for the defense, closed for the plaintiff, and served as co-captain), as well as Creagh Boulger (who was a witness for the plaintiff and an attorney for the defense) and Heather Robertson (who was a witness for the defense and an attorney for the plaintiff). Maria Phillis was named an All Regional Witness in Ada and an All American Witness in St. Paul , and Colin Wallace was named an All American Attorney. Our first alum, Adam Nelson, graduated and went to University of Arizona School of Law.

In 2004, Case was proud to maintain three competitive teams, bring them to Regionals in Oxford, Ohio and have two of these three teams qualify for the National Tournament in St. Petersburg Florida. This was also the first year that the first class of CWRU Mock Trial Graduated (with the exception of Adam Nelson, the first alum, who had graduated in three years). This was also the last year Tamia Collins coached a team. Inna Andrianov, not only scored perfectly on both sides as a witness at the Regional Tournament, but nearly did the same feat at the National Tournament. One of the teams, the "Senior" team, missed the National Championship Tournament by one point. This was also a year of major change in the competitive structure of the teams. For the first time, coaches were designated to individual teams. This was done out of necessity due to the number of teams. The alumni that graduated in 2004 were Andrew Roper, Alexia Devincentis, John Paul "JP" Teague, Jason Pizonka, Creagh Boulger, and Rebecca Fortess.

In 2005, Case fielded two teams at the Regional Tournament held at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. Though neither team qualified for a national tournament, they did bring home their second Spirit of AMTA award. Scott Paris, a local attorney, joined as a new coach of the Mock Trial team. The team also held a tournament downtown along with Meyers University. The year also resulted in further specialization of the teams themselves with most of the freshmen assigned to one team. This year saw the graduation of three students: Inna Andrianov, Colin Wallace, and Maria Phillis.

In 2006, Case sent three teams to the Regional Tournament held at Indiana University in Pennsylvania. One team, captained by Ryan Schumacher, won a bid to the National Tournament in St. Petersburg, Florida. Also at the Regional Tournament, Chris Carson was awarded a Best Attorney award. For the first time ever, the Mock Trial team had a freshmen team. The team built an impressive record of 4 and ½ wins at the regional tournament and was considered by the AMTA for an open bid to a national tournament. This year, like the previous year, saw near perfect retention of students that began the Mock Trial experience. As this was the seventh season, the third class of the Mock Trial team graduated. Heather Robertson became the eleventh alum of the Mock Trial team.

The 2007 season was great for Case Mock Trial.  At the beginning of the year, two new coaches, Richard Stahl and Jim Hogan, joined the program and made it stronger.  In February, Case sent four teams to the Regional Competition at Miami University.  All the teams did a great job, but the team captained by Ryan Schumacher, placed third with a 6-2 record, and earned a bid to the National Tournament in Waukegan, Illinois.  Also at this tournament, Ryan Schumacher, Brian Browne, and Jason Cairns earned Best Witness Awards, while Piyali Bhattacharya and Stephanie Ash earned Best Attorney Awards.  The team that competed at Waukegan, had a record of 4-4 and earned an Honorable Mention. Will Issa, was awarded the All American Witness Award.

AMTA Origins

The American Mock Trial Association program originated with Richard M. Calkins in 1985 while he was the dean of Drake University Law School. The idea was to give undergraduate students an opportunity to learn first hand about the work of trial attorneys, understand the judicial system, develop critical thinking and enhance communication skills. At the first tournament, held in Des Moines, Iowa, twelve teams from eight colleges and universities competed. In the 2000 season, over three hundred teams participated from colleges and universities all over the nation.