Cornell Mock Trial is a group of exceptional undergraduate students with a passion for advocacy, performance, analytical creativity, and law. Team members come from diverse backgrounds and majors, including Chemistry, Industrial and Labor Relations, and Drama, allowing the team to see challenges from a broader and more dynamic perspective.
The team competes nationally against other universities as part of the American Mock Trial Association. Students act as attorneys and witnesses in unscripted trials, where different schools represent opposing parties and try to prove their cases by examining witnesses, delivering statements, and arguing objections based on the Federal Rules of Evidence.
Last year, Cornell Mock Trial had its best season ever and achieved national-recognition, finishing Third in the National Championships, losing a ballot by only one point to the back-to-back National Champions, University of Virginia. A month earlier, Cornell finished in First Place and UNDEFEATED at the National Tournament in Chicago, doing so for the second year in a row. Cornell had built momentum as a dark horse throughout the season and catapulted itself into the top-tier of competition.
This year, Cornell is posed to build on that momemtum, using its seasoned veterans to help cultivate a remarkable pool of new talent from across the country. As a result of the tremendous interest in the program, this year's tryouts were truly impressive, with many potential team members bringing stellar instincts and years of experience, including a few high school state championships. There's 300 of us and a million of them... You know the rest.
BRIC IV
On the weekend of January 26-27, the Big Red Invitational Classic (BRIC IV) will be held at Cornell Law School in Ithaca, NY. Click here for judge registration.
Years of Success to Come
This year, Cornell Mock Trial is off to a great start with 3 Team Trophies and 9 Individual Awards. Last year, the team brought home 13 Individual Awards, including 2 All-Americans, and 5 Team Awards, including 2 First Place trophies and a Third Place finish at the National Championships.
A New Challenge
This year's team will confront an challenge unprecedented in college mock trial when they tackle the sentencing phase of a criminal assualt case.