Students develop critical thinking and public speaking skills, as well as a knowledge of legal practices, courtroom techniques, trial strategies and procedures through an engaging trial simulation. During the simulation, students will present a complete civil or criminal case by creating a case theory, questioning witnesses, entering exhibits, presenting evidence, and building and countering arguments from the opposite side before a mock jury and judge.
The American Mock Trial Association was founded in 1985 by Dean Richard Calkins of Drake Law School. AMTA serves as the governing body for intercollegiate mock trial competition. AMTA sponsors regional and national-level competitions, as well as providing interesting and complex case materials for academic use. Presently, AMTA hosts 25 regional tournaments, eight opening round championship tournaments and a national championship tournament each season. Approximately 600 teams from over 350 universities and colleges will compete in these tournaments. In total, AMTA provides a way for over 5,300 undergraduate students each academic year to engage in intercollegiate mock trial competitions across the country.
Mock Trial at UTA began in 2013 as a small group of students led by Criminology and Criminal Justice Prof. Royce West II and coached by members of the Dallas County District Attorney's Office.
Each year, candidates for the regional tournament are selected from among those students enrolled in the Fall Mock Trial I course CRCJ 4388-001 taught by Director Amber White.
Students with the status of sophomore to senior are eligible to enroll in the Mock Trial I course and, if selected, will be invited to enroll in Mock Trial II and will be able to participate in the Spring Regional tournament, an academic distinction in Pre-Law. Mock Trial I is a prerequisite to Mock Trial II.
The UTA mock trial teams are selected and coached by Amber White.
Students competed in the UTA Mock Trial Scrimmage against Trinity University, the 2nd Annual Kangaroo Bowl at Austin College in Sherman, TX and the UT Dallas Regional AMTA Mock Trial Tournament in Richardson, TX. Matthew McCurdy took home top witness honors and received the highest ranked attorney award with a perfect 20 out of 20 ranks! Regional competitors included Addis Bedilu, Joan Josiah, Matthew McCurdy, Hailey Moore, Carissa O’Pry, Justin Pennington, Merna Roman, and Jason Tams.
Three teams competed over the course of the Fall semester in three distinguished tournaments. Students won rounds against the Collin College mock trial team, went on to compete in Baylor Mock as well as the Inaugural Derek Moorehead Mock Trial Tournament hosted by the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Teams saw tremendous success as they took home multiple awards and top honors including two top witness awards with perfect scores, two top attorney awards and Spirit of AMTA.
Teams competed at the OU Sooner Mock Trial Competition where Hailey Moore and Salman Danesh were awarded Best Advocate and Best Witness, respectively, and also received a check as part of their award.
In the 2016-17 season, our UTA students got to travel to Houston to participate in the Inaugural St. Thomas Mock Trial Competition and also competed in the UTA Intramural Mock Trial Competition. Award winners are pictured below. Regional Team competitors (above) for the UT Dallas Regional Mock Trial Tournament were Jessica Bebawi, Meghan Clingenpeel, Aysha Paige Brooks, Jordan Tambara, Ryan Santos and Richard Miller.
In the 2016-17 season, our UTA students got to travel to Houston to participate in the Inaugural St. Thomas Mock Trial Competition and also competed in the UTA Intramural Mock Trial Competition.
Regional competitors included Christopher Nguyen, Jorge Hernandez, Jackie Ramos, Albea Romero, Mehwish Merchant, Daniel Winston Ruiz, Jessica Alvarez, Jordan Tambara, Mark Charnock and Aby Lukose.
Students worked tirelessly as part of a club effort to prepare for the regional tournament in only 10 days time. Students put on a wonderful showing. Regional competitors include Jackie Ramos, Nahielys LaFontaine, Davinder Jassal, Ashley Pfeiffer, Mehwish Merchant, Ramon Hernandez, Madison Speer, Karina Loya and Heriberto (Eddie) Rodriguez.
Explore the American Mock Trial Association's website for more information and to learn about upcoming invitational tournaments. Questions about UTA Mock Trial may be sent to prelaw@uta.edu.
