With consistently stellar performances at regional competitions over the past three years, the University’s Mock Trial Organization was ranked 4th in the nation by the American Mock Trial Association.

According to Jon Kaplan ’11, president of the mock trial team, the American Mock Trial Association determines national rankings by reviewing the past performances of the nation’s top 48 teams. The Cornell team has recently achieved two third place finishes within its division and one honorary mention.

Each fall, over 600 teams from 250 schools participate in invitational tournaments. “These [invitational tournaments] give us a chance to prepare for regionals and nationals by seeing other schools’ styles and interacting with them,” said Debra McElligott ’10, vice president of the mock trial team. Winning teams then move on to regionals, super regionals and nationals. Last year, the University’s team placed second in both regionals and super regionals and third in its division at nationals.

“Our team is somewhat of a powerhouse in the mock trial world,” Kaplan said.

According to McElligott, the team members’ risk-taking ability, creativity and quick thinking have propelled them to the number four ranking. Additionally, she stressed the team’s chemistry and its ability to foster unity and cohesiveness.

Hoping to retain the team’s fourth place ranking, McElligott plans to work on maintaining creativity in the courtroom, improving intuitive understanding between members and encouraging mentoring between veterans and new members. Kaplan plans on continuing the team’s rigorous practice schedule, which generally consists of practice two to three times a week with daily practices as tournaments approach. “We have a great pool of new people,” McElligott said. “We expect to develop all that great, raw talent.”

According to McElligott, not only has the team been ranked as one of the top five mock trial teams in the country for the past three years but it has also received four All-American Awards in the last four years. This honor is awarded to the top attorneys and witnesses based on individual performances, and it is the highest honor any college-level mock trial participant can receive. “Mock trial is definitely a program Cornell should be proud of,” McElligott said.

Currently, according to Kaplan, the team consists of 26 members with 12 new members. Law students at the University coach the team, and the head coach is Ryan Strasser law. There are three teams of eight members that make up the entire mock trial team.