Syracuse University hosts American Mock Trial Association regional tournament

Syracuse University hosts American Mock Trial Association regional tournamentFebruary 13, 2008Judy Holmesjlholmes@syr.edu

This weekend, Syracuse University’s award winning undergraduate Mock Trial team will battle 24 teams from 13 colleges and universities during the second annual Finger Lakes Regional American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) Tournament, Feb. 15-17, hosted by SU. The competition will be judged by noted area attorneys and judges.

Participating institutions include Yale, Cornell, Dartmouth, Colgate and St. Bonaventure universities; Amherst, Hamilton, Siena and Buffalo State colleges; as well as SUNY Binghamton, Buffalo and Fredonia and the University of Rochester. The event is free and open to the public. Paid parking is available in the Booth Garage on Colvin St. The competition schedule is available at http://ilearn.syr.edu/pgm_mocktr_sch07.htm.

The three-day event will be held at various locations on campus as the teams square off during four elimination rounds, the final of which will be held from3-6 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 17. The awards ceremony will be held from 7:30-8:30 p.m., Sunday in the College of Law’s Grant Auditorium. The teams will be arguing the penalty phase in the case of Midlands v. Bobbi Campbell. Mock trial teams will argue both for the state — presenting evidence of aggravation — and for the defense, presenting evidence of mitigation.

The SU Mock Trial Team is sponsored by the iLearn Program in The College of Arts and Sciences. Team members are selected and coached during the fall semester by SU alumni trial attorneys and compete in the spring round of AMTA-sponsored tournaments. Further information about the team is available at http://ilearn.syr.edu/pgm_mocktrial.htm.

The iLearn Program supports a variety of innovative educational programs, including the Soling Program, the Allport Program, the Undergraduate Research Program and the Ruth Meyer Scholars.