Lafayette Advances to American Mock Trial Association Opening Round Championships

Lafayette’s mock trial team took second place at the Easton Regional Mock Trial Tournament hosted by Lafayette last weekend and will advance to the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) Opening Round Championship series March 17-18 in Washington, D.C.

Three students took individual honors. Chris Regnier ’15 (Lakewood, Colo.) received an outstanding witness award and Sam Griffith ’13 (Ocean City, N.J.) won an outstanding attorney award. Caroline Lang ’13 (Yardley, Pa.) earned both an outstanding attorney award with a perfect score and an outstanding witness award.

View and share more images from the mock trial competition

Sponsored by the AMTA, Lafayette’s competition, which was held in Pardee Hall, was one of 24 official regional tournaments across the nation in February. More than 500 teams from 350 colleges and universities participate at the regional level. Eight teams from each competition advance to the opening round championships, leading to the selection of 48 teams that will compete in the AMTA National Championship Tournament April 13-14.

Other students who will compete in Washington, D.C. are Alex Caballero ’13 (Allentown, Pa.), Andrew Chun ’12 (Monroe, N.Y.), Jordan Close ’14 (Milford, N.H.), Nick Franchetti ’14 (Voorhees, N.J.), and Laura White ’15 (Saddle River, N.J.).

In mock trial, participants portray attorneys and witnesses to argue a court case. All teams are given the same case to prepare, but changes are incorporated by AMTA as the competition advances to give teams new challenges and force them to create new case theories.

This year’s case is the State of Midlands v. Danny Dawson. In the criminal case, Dawson and two friends leave a bar after several hours spent celebrating a birthday. On the way home, Dawson loses control of the car, resulting in a crash and the death of one of the passengers.