Troy Mock Trial team prepares for upcoming regional tournament

Troy University’s mock trial team invited Auburn University and the University of West Florida to a tournament this past week to prepare for the upcoming regional tournament in New Orleans, Louisiana.  

Multiple competition rounds were held to provide a friendly, low-stakes opportunity to prepare for the upcoming regional tournament. 

“This will be our first year travelling to New Orleans for regionals,” said Dr. Adam Rutkowski, assistant professor of political science and mock trial coach. “One benefit of this new location is the fact that the tournament is held in the federal courthouse in New Orleans.  

“We are always glad when our students can compete in a real courtroom setting.” 

Every year, the American Mock Trial Association releases a hypothetical case for mock trial teams across the country to examine and rehearse. From there, the teams assign roles to individuals including witnesses, defense attorneys and prosecution. 

“[Hosting this past tournament] allows us to see the same case and same case materials from different angles and perspectives we might not have considered, which makes us see the flaws in our case strategy and fix those,” said Andrew Cerf, a junior political science and pre-law major from Prattville, Alabama.  

Students are responsible for learning information pertaining to their role, which can include affidavits, evidence and cross examination questions. 

“For the past two years, I have been the defendant, so I take the brunt of the questions in the actual trial,” said Nicholas Defore, a junior political science major from Sumiton, Alabama. “I hope to further those skills to a whole new level from this tournament.”  

Through the regional tournament, not only will the teams be judged as a whole, but individual awards will be granted to students for best attorneys and best witnesses. 

“The mock trial [team] encourages civility and sportsmanship among competitors inside and outside the competition rounds by awarding a Spirit of American Mock Trial Association Award,” said Dr. Lisa Harden, lecturer of legal studies and mock trial co-coach. “Dr. Rutkowski and I are very proud of the fact that our teams have been recognized with that award at regionals and an invitational tournament in the past.”  

Troy University’s mock trial teams have earned several awards since the founding of the organization in 2023 and are composed of several academic majors and backgrounds.