SOMETIMES MOCKERY IS A GOOD THING: AT THE ADAMS COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN QUINCY......
.......We were overrun by bright, hard-working, earnest and very prepared young people representing numerous colleges and universities throughout the Midwest in Mock Trial Competition. I don't know what the economic impact was on the community but I can tell you it made for great spectator sport and really restored one's faith in the youth of America. These kids, whether they choose to be trial lawyers or use the advocacy experience for something else, are going places!
My only quibble is that there should be more General Public publicity for this event because I think some area citizens would really enjoy watching at least part of it.
BTW, it is a team sport, which makes it even more cool. I even saw one team break a huddle like we used to do in football.
A shout-out from the Basin to AMTA and the local committee who put this puppy together. It was something!
posted by UMRBlog @ 14:23
5 comments
5 Comments:
Thank you Tony for coming and judging our tournament. I know all of the students appreciate when they have trial lawyers and Judges evaluating their performances. It is amazing the skill level of these student, as they are all undergrads.
By the way, our QU teams finished 3rd and 7th. And our students took 6 individual awards...three for best attorney and three for best witness.
Our team that finished in third place outpaced the University of Illinois and Illinois State University, both powerhouse Mock Trial Programs. This was a great finish for Quincy University. Thought I would put a plug in for them because they have worked hard.
This is such great training for these students, whether they go on to law school or not.
AMTA (American Mock Trial Assoc.) approached our program and asked us to start this tournament four years ago. Ours is always one of the first tournaments of the Mock Trial season, and is well respected due to the quality of the judging and the fact that we hold it in the Adams County Courthouse.
We always have tremendous support from the Adams County Bar and the Judges of the 8th Circuit, as you saw on Saturday. Over twenty attorneys and 8th Circuit Judges turned out to serve as judges for our tournament.
Next weekend we compete at Illinois State University. I hope we see you next year, and again, thanks for giving up your Saturday to spend it with us.
I didn't know it at the time but I had one of the QU teams in the afternoon session. They had a very tough opponent but did well.
Great experience.
Yes...you judged our A team in the PM round. They went up against Butler, I think. Our team won both cards. They had a heartbreaking loss in the first round...they dropped a card by one point. That is the difference between 3rd and 7th. That is how tough the field is at our tournament.
The coach from Butler emailed me this morning thanking me for recruiting trial attorneys and judges for this tournament. We all appreciate that because our kids need feedback from those trying cases. This is not the norm at other tournaments.
Other schools find it difficult to get people to volunteer their time to do these tournaments. Most of them are 4 rounders spread across 2-3 days. Some have 60 schools competing...so do the math on the number of judges needed. That is why Brian and I judge so many Mock Trial rounds at other tournaments.
We remain committed to this program and appreciate the support we have in Adams County.
That was a good trial both ways.
As I told the young people as a judge, I am really asking myself the question "How are these folks doing TODAY?" That questions aside, in my heart of hearts, I'm asking myself "Who here has it in him/her to be a really top trial lawyer?" It's kind of funny how today's scores and someone's potential aren't always the same answer.
Also, I saw how important the coaching aspect is. A team with a "coach as monitor" is at an extreme disadvantage to a team with a "coach as resource."
But mostly, it was just a privilege to see so many earnest, hard working young people so deeply invested in an extracurricular activity.
BUT, I stand by what I said earlier. I think this has more potential as a spectator sport if it's promoted a little more. Maybe one night of it as a demonstration should be part of People's Law School.
TYFCB
That's a great idea. Pass that along to anyone you know who is
involved in the People's Law School.
We have tremendous resources here in Quincy for our teams. Judge Schuering has been a long time supporter, Josh Jones also helps out, as well as Jon Barnard, the State's Attorney who comes and speaks from time to time.
Other attorneys in Quincy take our students as interns and expose them to civil practice. Other students are place in the SAO and the Public Defender's office so they can get a taste of what government work is like prior to law school.
I always try to snag as many as I can...
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