The 2009 Mock Trial Team at the Polar Bear Invitational.
For more information about the B-W Mock Trial team, please contact Dr. Tom Sutton at tsutton@bw.edu.
B-W's Mock Trial Team
Mock Trial is a team-based, competitive trial simulation program in which groups of students compete against other colleges and universities to "win" a civil or criminal trial. During the competition, Baldwin-Wallace Mock Trial (BWMT) squad members act as litigators and witnesses, arguing the case, calling friendly witnesses and cross-examining hostile witnesses based on the case theory they developed in practice. The goal is not just to develop an understanding of the American court system, but also to develop and hone students' critical thinking ability, public speaking skills, and persuasiveness. Competing teams are scored by the judge and jury members (made up of lawyers and law-school students), as part of our membership in the American Mock Trial Association.
Team History
The B-W Mock Trial Team was founded in 2009, and in its first year competed at the 4th Annual Polar Bear Invitational Mock Trial Tournament at Ohio Northern University, as well as the regional AMTA competition in Cincinnati, where team Vice President Andrew Goss took home a Best Litigator award.
During the 2010�2011 season, the team participated in the 3rd Annual Spartan Throwdown Invitational in Cleveland, the regional AMTA tournament in Pittsburgh, and the 5th Annual Polar Bear Invitational Mock Trial Tournament at Ohio Northern University, where the team was recognized as the runner-up for the AMTA Spirit Award for their sportsmanship.
Why Join the B-W Mock Trial Team?
Want to learn how to improve your ability to persuade people and think on your feet? While Mock Trial is great for students who are interested in law, it is also a great opportunity for any student to practice public speaking skills, as well as being able to think and argue off-the-cuff and under pressure. Students from all majors are welcomed and encouraged to participate. Mock trial is a great way to improve your critical reasoning and public speaking skills, skills that are invaluable for whatever career you choose.
Students work with practicing trial attorney William Eadie to learn the Federal Rules of Evidence, Civil and Criminal Procedure, as well as persuasive argument, cross-examination skills, and trial strategy. Mr. Eadie received his law degree from Case Western Reserve School of Law, where he won the William E. Davis Mock Trial Prize, the Paul J. Hergenroeder Prize for Outstanding Trial Advocacy, and Best Advocate in the 2008 Case Crosstown Mock Trial Competition, and was president of the Case Mock Trial Team.
There are a number of roles on the team, from litigator to witness to timekeeper, which allows you to balance your time and comfort-level constraints against our competition schedule. Drawing on elements of debate, theatre, improve, and persuasive reasoning, BWMT is an opportunity to discover and refine a set of skills that translate to any field.
Schedule
During Minimester A of fall semester, students interested in participating in Mock Trial are required to take the 2-credit course, The American Trial Process, where students will learn about all the parts of a trial, including opening and closing statements, the examination of witnesses, and making and responding to objections. You will understand how lawyers use procedural and evidentiary rules, analytical reasoning, and the theatre of persuasion to seek a favorable verdict from a judge or jury.
After the course is over, the team meets weekly throughout the year, as well as more frequently in the weeks leading up to our competitions. The season ends before spring finals, allowing students to focus on completing their courses.
Recruitment for the team takes place at the end of spring semester and during the Weekend-of-Welcome at the beginning of fall semester.