Mock Trial
Do you want to learn how a courtroom operates? Do you want to learn about how evidence is introduced at trial and why some evidence is kept from the jury? Do you want to learn how to be a lawyer without going to law school? Then Mock Trial is for you.
In 2004, Criminal Justice fielded its first Mock Trial team and this year plans to win the National Championship! Mock Trial is a national competition where schools compete against each other in a mock (fake) trial. Each year the case switches from civil to criminal and for the 2009-2010 competition year, the case is a criminal murder trial, State of Midlands vs. Jackie Owens [ American Mock Trial Association ].
Students who join Mock Trial prepare the entire case from opening statements, to introducing evidence, to mastering the rules of evidence, to making objections at trial, to conducting direct and cross examinations, to persuading a jury through closing arguments. The teams work closely with one another to prepare to go against some of the top teams in the country. Shippensburg has competed valiantly against Cornell University, Arizona State University, Columbia University and Gettysburg College. The regional competition will be held in February 2010 and the Criminal Justice Department is fielding two teams this year.
Not only will Mock Trial teach you all about criminal justice in the courts, it will also make you a phenomenal and confident public speaker. Students who have participated in the past note fondly that competing in Mock Trial was one of the best experiences and memories they had at Shippensburg.
For more information, please contact Profesor Jirard at sajira@ship.edu. You can also check out the popular perjuries.com website where collegiate competitors discuss everything Mock Trial.
