Mock Trial Team dons suits for its Halloween performance

The 51�� Mock Trial Team with Larry Hayman at the Franklin County Courthouse

51��'s Mock Trial Team members dressed up this Halloween weekend and showed up in court, but they looked more like the cast of "Suits" than "Men in Black."

OHIO sent two teams to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas to compete in their first competition of the season at the Ohio State University on Oct. 29-30.

Each team had 10 members divided into two sides: plaintiff and defense. Students portraying witnesses were responsible for memorizing different affidavits and depositions to testify in cross and direct examination in court, and students in the role of attorneys were responsible for directing and crossing witnesses as well as making opening and closing arguments to prove their case.

Lincoln Schaff delivers his closing argument.

Each side participated in two trials for a total of four rounds over the course of the weekend. Two judges, one of whom acted as the presiding judge throughout the trial, scored each trial. This year’s case involves a civil negligence suit against a flight company after the death of both the plaintiff’s husband and the company’s business owner in a plane crash.

Both teams got to face different colleges from around the country, including Vanderbilt University, Penn State University, Loyola University Chicago, Northwestern University, Case Western Reserve University, Duquesne University, and Xavier University—all part of the American Mock Trial Association, which is made up of more than 700 teams representing around 350 different colleges and universities across the nation.

From left, sitting is Megan Taylor, Karmen Kirker, Nick Bohuslawsky, and Sydney Gross; standing, Tyler Ottersbach and Emily Green.

This tournament was the first college competition ever for the team’s newest members, allowing them to bond with their teammates and gain firsthand trial experience.

“I am so impressed by this team. We faced some extremely tough competitors and held our own. More importantly, this first tournament can be used as a learning tool for the future because our team is young, and for many this was their first time competing. We were able to find some weak spots in our cases and know what to work on for our next competition in two weeks,” said team Secretary Megan Taylor, a junior majoring in history pre-law, minoring in political science, and pursuing a Law, Justice & Culture Certificate.

“My first mock trial competition has taught me so much about the law and has introduced me to endless opportunities about something I am passionate in pursuing. The Mock Trial Team is a community of people I am so thankful for being apart of, and I am so excited for what’s to come!” said Ava Poling, a first-year College of Arts and Sciences student who served as an attorney for the plaintiff.

A plaintiff team seated from left, Mary Harte, Zach Donaldson, Elena Baker Robertson Walker; standing, Riley Sargent and Casey Patterson.

Karmen Kirker, a first-year studying integrated language arts agreed, noting, “As a new member I wasn’t sure to expect, but the trip was so fun! I got to bond with my team members over dinner, and the competition was a great learning experience.”

The Mock Trial Team is coached by Larry Hayman, Esq., director of legal engagement and the pre-law program at the Center for Law, Justice and Culture and the Center for Advising, Career and Experiential Learning.

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