Mock Trial Team competes in St. Paul Trials at Hamline University

UW-Superior's Mock Trial Team (from left, back row) Alex DeBlaey, Desiray Matthews, Autumn Bass, coach Maria Cuzzo, Julian Williams, Jeb Leone, Scott Holmes; (from left, front row) Bella Gigliotti and Kenneth Benz.

The team earned a 4-4- record against some of the strongest competition in the Upper Midwest

UW-Superior’s Mock Trial team had a strong competition at the St. Paul Trials at Hamline University in St. Paul, November 2-4. The team earned a 4-4- record against some of the strongest competition in the Upper Midwest including collegiate teams from Winona State, Upper Iowa University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Macalester College, St. Norbert College, Drake University, Luther College, US Air Force Academy, St. Olaf, Carleton College, Cornell College, UMD, Culver Stockton College, St. Catherine University, Northwestern University, University of St. Thomas and Hamline University. There were 39 teams competing at this tournament.

The following team members earned individual nominations for Outstanding Performance as Attorneys in rounds of competition: Kenneth Benz, Bella Gigliotti, Jeb Leone, Autumn Bass, Julian Williams, and Alex DeBlaey. The following team members earned individual nominations for Outstanding Performance as Witnesses in rounds of competition: Julian Williams, Autumn Bass, Scott Holmes, Jeb Leone and Desiray Matthews.  

This year’s Mock Trial case is a civil case from the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) that involves an animal trainer and their trained chimpanzee appearing on a nightly television show. During the rehearsal, the chimpanzee goes made and attacks and kills a writer on the show. The case poses legal issues of negligence: who is more responsible for this attack and death? Filled with interesting witnesses and dozens of exhibits, the national case teaches collegiate students about how to analyze, design, present and defend a legal case to the trial court of Midlands.

The team next competes the weekend of November 15-17 at the Ole Open at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. The fall season will wrap up with the annual Superior Durst Memorial Invitational hosted by UW-Superior. The Superior Durst is free and open to the public to view rounds. There will be one round of competition Friday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Swenson Hall, two rounds of competition (9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) on Saturday and one round on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

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