The University of Idaho is one of two institutions in the state to be a member of the American Mock Trial Association, the organization responsible for intercollegiate mock trial, but it hasn’t always sent a team. Up until this year, mock trial languished at UI as a completely student-based effort.
This year’s team has an instructor and credited class, both of which are relatively common features at other schools. With more university support and structure, they have been able to direct their attention to other challenges; namely, they are focusing on actually competing.
“I would say [the hardest part is] just it being the first year,” said Addie Beplate, the criminal defense attorney hired to coach the team. “Figuring out what we want the program to look like, and starting from scratch in that regard, and everyone learning how to do a mock trial together.”
There are some things students can expect of a mock trial — they will pick their positions, whether that is witness or attorney, and they will be expected to carry out both direct and cross examinations of the witnesses.
Direct examination is the initial questioning of a witness, conducted by one party; cross examination, in which the opposing party questions the witness, follows.
Participants will be expected to reenact the roles they selected to the best of their ability and to conduct themselves using courtroom etiquette.
In addition, collegiate mock trial takes place in the fictional Midlands. Each year’s case is either civil or criminal, and former cases can and should be studied; since 1985, when AMTA was founded, the world of the Midlands has been building on itself. This year’s case, State of Midlands v. Charlie Martin, revolves around the alleged murder of a TV show contestant.
Participating students know all of this. They have been given hundreds of pages to help them study the case and prepare their arguments. However, the only way to fully immerse oneself in mock trial is to actually participate.
In preparation for the regional competition, the UI team has participated in two scrimmages. Scrimmages are unranked practice meetings in which a team from one school will meet with another and hold their own mock trial surrounding the case.
“We had our first scrimmage with WSU… I was nervous and scared and a little bit excited, and then we went in and started doing it, and I recognized a whole other group of people that are also doing the exact same thing we are and are passionate about it. A lot of my nerves went away,” said Mila Rice, a political science and English major graduating in December. She is serving as a prosecutor and witness for the UI team in the upcoming case. “We didn’t have a winner or anything when we did it. It was just for practice and to get to know each other.”
The UI team is composed of eight undergraduate students, who all come from different backgrounds. Beplate and Raleigh Halgren, the elected team captain, both noted this as a strength; as they figure things out and piece their arguments together, they all have different perspectives to offer.
One thing most of them have in common, though, is that this year’s mock trial team is a better opportunity to participate in mock trial than others they’ve gotten.
“Everyone’s knowledge of mock trial and how it works has grown exponentially, because a lot of us are actually — it is our first year ever doing anything like this,” said Halgren.
While Layla Knight, a defense attorney for the team and a senior in political science and philosophy, participated in mock trial in high school, she echoed similar sentiments. The same year she joined mock trial, the pandemic started.
“All three of my competitions were actually held on Zoom, because even after the bans were lifted, the state competition was easier to access for everyone on Zoom. I never actually got the benefit of being able to do an in-person trial,” said Knight. “When you’re in real life, your notes aren’t in front of you. It’s a lot more challenging, and it’s a lot more intimidating… [collegiate mock trial] is harder for me now because I didn’t have the preparation [high school mock trial] would have given me.”
According to Graham Hubbs, the pre-law advisor for UI, mock trial at the university also suffered during that time. “We had an active mock trial team before the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “The students just kind of put the club together on their own and would go and compete at the regional tournament in Seattle…. The pandemic hit, and I think that put a dent on the institutional continuation of the club.”
Now, with credits and an instructor, those involved hope that UI students will continue to compete beyond this year.
“It’s a really, really great experience, and it’s not just for the mock trial competition,” said Rice. “I’ve been provided with resources that will help me if I have questions about law school or if I’m a starting attorney and have questions even then… I would love for this to grow and for people to familiarize themselves with it. It’s a pretty cool opportunity that I just don’t think has the publicity that it deserves.”
According to the AMTA’s website, UI is just one of hundreds of member schools, and the eight UI students are in the company of over 7,300 college students. This year, the regional tournaments are spread across 32 cities and four weekends. The UI team will head to the Seattle tournament on Feb. 21 and 22. If they succeed there, they will move on to the Opening Round Championship Series, held in mid-March, from which the National Championship Tournament teams will be selected.
Cal Torres can be reached at [email protected]