Taking the roles of defense attorneys, prosecutors and even witnesses, participating in an American Mock Trial tournament is a lot like watching an episode of "Law and Order," says Sonoma State University Mock Trial Team president Michelle Arnold. "We do a lot of acting, so I always encourage theater majors to join our team."
Every year, the American Mock Trial Association releases a fictional case to teams across the nation. This year, students will be arguing a criminal case that deals with corporate bribery.
Because students are given a fictional case, everything they cite in the regional competition must be fictional and come from the Association's guidebook. "All universities are given the same case, so it's interesting to see how everyone interprets the case differently," says Arnold, a sophomore philosophy major.
The team just finished a Mock Trial tournament at UC Davis last month, where they competed against 12 other universities. Sonoma State did not place amongst the top finishers, but Arnold says it was a good learning experience in preparation for the American Mock Trial Association's regional tournament at Fresno State University in February.
Sonoma State's Mock Trial Team will face off against other universities in the region, including Stanford and UCLA. Arnold hopes to see her team place and be recognized in the competition, something that not all universities are fortunate enough to experience.
"By the time I graduate, I want the club to be on its feet," says Arnold. "I want it to have a foundation and have it carry on and be great in the future."
The 10-student team is in its second year at Sonoma State and promotes professionalism, public speaking and improvisation. The American Mock Trial Association was founded in 1985 at Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa.