The University of Wisconsin Law School’s Mock Trial organization has selected 19 new members from more than 70 who participated in a competitive four-day audition on September 19-22, 2006.
All students prepared and delivered a closing statement based upon a fact scenario of a fictitious civil case before a panel of three judges consisting of two mock trial student-members and one faculty member or practitioner.
Students were scored on their ability to present a cohesive theory of the case, deal effectively with the weaknesses and strengths of the case, and utilize the applicable law. The judges also observed the students’ ability to argue confidently and persuasively, express non-verbal communication, and argue without reliance on notes.
The new members will join the existing seventeen members in a semester of seminar-like classes that focus on trial advocacy and compliance with the Federal Rules of Evidence in litigation. The UW Law School Mock Trial organization will send teams of student competitors to several regional competitions in the coming year, beginning with the Third Annual Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial Competition in November.
“Competition for membership was tighter than it has ever been,” said Rebecca Smith, president of the Mock Trial organization. “We were thrilled to see such a talented group of students. Between the returning students and the new members, UW is going to make a very impressive showing at all of our competitions this year.”
Judges included four faculty members: Susan Steingass, Mullen Dowdal, Rhonda Lanford (who practices with Habush Habush & Rottier, Madison) and Ellen Berz of the Wisconsin Public Defender’s Office. All four professors are active with the Mock Trial organization as coaches.
The new members of Mock Trial for 2006-07 are:
Gontorwon Borh
Colleen Brown
Emily Cannon
Mary Margaret Hogan
Maha Kahn
Sam Kidd
Natalie Kissinger
Neil Layton
Sharon Maly
Ify Offor
Nishith Patel
Jonathan Parker
Katherine Plominski
Benjamin Prinsen
Connor Sabatini
Jill Smith
Andrea Sumpter
Dan Sperling
Jeremy Vanderloop
Submitted by on October 17, 2006
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