Trinity's Mock Trial Team Finishes in Top 10 in National Competition

by Michele Jacklin

Against some of the toughest competition in higher education, Trinity’s four-year-old Mock Trial Team finished in 10th place in the 27th Annual American Mock Trial Association’s championship tournament held April 15-17 in Des Moines, Iowa.

It marked the first time that Trinity’s team broke through and advanced to the finals, the culmination of a national competition in which 642 teams participated. Altogether, 48 teams qualified for the Des Moines event, with UCLA defeating New York University for the top prize.

Eight Trinity students made the trip to Des Moines, including team co-president Zachary Green ’11, who was named an All-American Attorney, meaning he excelled in his role as a defense attorney and was cited for his outstanding performance.

“I could never have envisioned the Mock Trial Association competition ending any better,” said Green. “It blows my mind as to how far this team has come this year. To be in the upper echelon of teams in this country is such a good feeling.”

In addition to Green and team co-president Michael Galligan ’11, other students who participated included Leslie Ahlstrand ’12; Zoe Bartholomay ’12; Andres Delgadillo ’13; James Geisler ’14; Stephen Gruendel ’11; and Mary Sullivan ’13. Accompanying the team was Pamela Cameron, an associate with the law firm of
Sinoway, McEnery, Messy & Sullivan. Cameron has coached the group on a part-time basis.

In order to qualify for the national tournament, the Trinity team first had to place among the top eight in a regional tournament in Boston in February, a finish that earned it a spot in the opening round of the national championship at Pace University in White Plains, New York, in March. In 2010, that round proved to be the team’s undoing.

Bantams defeat teams from larger schools

But 2011 produced a different and more satisfying outcome. The Trinity team was one of six selected to move on to the championship round hosted by the Drake University Law School. While in Des Moines, the team was invited to the home of James Hubbell, III ’70, a member of the Drake Board of Trustees.

“The mock trial tournament is a big deal,” said Hubbell. “There are quite a few law school deans, some judges, and lots and lots of law professors” in attendance.

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