Holy Cross Mock Trial Team Finishes 6th in the Nation

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross Mock Trial Team placed 6th out of 50 colleges and universities that competed in the National Intercollegiate Mock Trial Tournament. The tournament, which consisted of four rounds of competition, was held March 16-18 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Holy Cross also won the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) Spirit Award, granted to the competitor that shows the best sportsmanship, civility and justice. In addition to team honors, Ryan Hayward '01 of Ramsey, N.J., received All-American honors for his performance as an attorney.

Teams qualified to compete at the national competition by finishing at the top of their field in each of 17 regional tournaments held throughout the country. In all, over 393 teams from 36 states were registered to compete at the regional level of intercollegiate competition this year.

Started in the fall of 1997 at Holy Cross, Mock Trial is an opportunity for undergraduate students to learn about trial techniques used by lawyers in the courtroom. Teams consist of six to eight students who take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a simulated court case. Participants gain experience and knowledge in areas such as the stages of a trial, how to argue objections, and how to direct and cross-examine a witness.

This year's trial involved a lawsuit stemming from the death of an amateur mountain climber who was killed while attempting to summit Mt. Everest.