BGSU team makes unbeaten case at Mock Trial

BOWLING GREEN, O.—Six Bowling Green State University students comprised the only undefeated team among roughly 65 that competed in the recent Mid-South Mock Trial Invitational in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Taking top honors at the 20th annual tournament at Middle Tennessee State University was the BGSU team of Lauren Biksacky, from Muskegon, Mich.; Kate Cook, Maineville; Maureen Cosgrove, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Ashleigh Cox, Bowling Green; Kallie Durkit, Cuyahoga Falls, and Uriah Harrell, New Bremen.

Mock Trial consists of actual trials conducted entirely by “attorneys” and “witnesses” from each participating institution. At the Tennessee tournament—the largest of the year—the case was a murder trial involving three Hollywood directors. The “witnesses” had to be familiar with 10 complicated affidavits and the testimony based on those affidavits, while the three “attorneys” on each team needed to know the Federal Rules of Evidence and Criminal Procedure.

“Judges often comment that the performance of our team is far above what they see in court on a daily basis,” said Dr. Neil Browne, a Professor Emeritus of economics at BGSU and the team’s adviser. BGSU finished eighth in the nation in 2008 and, over the last seven years, has consistently been ranked in the top 30, he said, adding that there are 700 intercollegiate Mock Trial teams in the country. The regional and national tournaments are held each February and March.

“What is fulfilling for me is to watch their collaborative growth,” said Browne about the team members. “Their speaking, listening and creative thinking skills have little option but to flourish in an exceptionally high-pressure competition.”

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(Posted December 07, 2009 )