University of Richmond to Compete in National Mock Trial Competition

March 11, 2002

The University of Richmond's undergraduate mock trial team has won a bid to the highest level American Mock Trial Association national tournament April 5-7 in Des Moines, Iowa. The team qualified by placing fourth out of 22 teams competing in a regional tournament Feb. 22-24 in College Park, Md.

The team also received the Spirit of AMTA Award for "civility, fair play and justice," said Erin Torrey of Salisbury, Md., the team's captain. Team member Josh Terry, a junior from Fort Worth, Texas, won an Outstanding Attorney award, and freshman Chris Kidd of Greeneville, Tenn., won an Outstanding Witness award.

The AMTA was formed in 1985 to give undergraduate students a first-hand opportunity to learn about the work of trial attorneys, understand the judicial system, develop critical thinking skills and enhance communication skills. The organization sponsors regional tournaments and three levels of national competition.

The university has had a mock trial team for six years. This year's team is the first to go to a national tournament, Torrey said. There is no competitive "season" in mock trial competition. The regional event, she said, is the only opportunity to qualify for the nationals.

"Mock trial relies heavily on strategy. As a team you try to feel out characters and determine which three witnesses would be best to help prove each side of the case," Torrey explained. The team prepares both the defense and the prosecution in a case determined annually by AMTA. At the tournaments, teams argue the side predetermined for them in the first, second and fourth rounds. Sides for the third round are determined by a coin toss.

Richmond defeated teams from Duke and Virginia and tied George Washington to advance to the top national tournament.