Mock trial team finishes seventh in national tournament

Mock trial team finishes seventh in national tournamentApril 16, 2003Judy Holmesjlholmes@syr.edu

The Syracuse University Mock Trial team finished another successful year by placing seventh at the National Tournament, held in St. Paul, Minn., at the end of March. This year marked the team’s fourth appearance in a national tournament in as many years in the tournament; this year, SU took on 26 schools from across the nation in a four-round competition. Competing for the University were seniors Iman Abraham and Janine Sprague, junior Riguad Yves Noel, sophomore Julia Joyce and freshmen Timothy Middleton, Priya Desouza and Jessica Marsh. The team is sponsored by iLEARN: The Innovative Learning Program in The College of Arts and Sciences.

The case students had to prepare this year involved a civil action for the wrongful death of a seven-year-old child allegedly hit by a drunk driver. The team prepared both the plaintiff and defense sides of the case and developed characters that were used as witnesses.

Before earning a spot at the National Tournament, two teams of students competed at the St. John’s University Regional Tournament, held in February, during which students earned several individual awards. Senior Lucy Freda was honored as the highest scorer in the outstanding attorney category and freshman Drew Lederman was honored as the highest scorer in the outstanding witness category. Also earning individual awards as outstanding attorneys were sophomore Amanda Rey and Desouza. Yves Noel and Middleton both earned outstanding witness awards.

Other members of the regional teams included seniors Iman Abraham, Sprague and Elena Goldberg, junior Brian Ierubino, sophomores Julia Joyce and Joe Nosse, and freshmen Jessica Marsh, Erin Gover, Maureen Lorincz and Liz Hoffman.

Prior to the regional competition, the teams competed at the Cornell University Invitational Tournament, which was held in January. Yves Noel earned an outstanding attorney award and Abraham earned an outstanding witness award.

Coaching the teams were local attorneys Kevin Kuehner and Jean Marie Westlake.