Who governs mock trial?
The American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), whose Board and officials issue
competition rules and the case to be used each year, governs collegiate Mock
Trial. AMTA oversees the entire mock trial season as well as the Regional and National Championship Tournament.
There are over 500 collegiate teams currently registered with AMTA, each of
which is assigned an official AMTA team number. GW has three teams: 756, 757,
& 758.
How often do you compete?
Each team is comprised of eight competing members. Teams compete at anywhere between six (6) and seven (7) tournaments throughout the season, which ranges from
mid-October until the National Championship in early April. Personnel on each team often changes prior to the Regional and National Championship Tournament.
How does a trial work?
At tournaments, each team competes in four rounds, two as the prosecution or
plaintiff and two as the defense. Each team selects three witnesses and three attorneys to represent each side. The attorneys deliver the opening and closing statements as well as direct and cross-examinations of all witnesses. Attorneys and witnesses are both scored by real judges and attorneys based upon a point system established by AMTA.
How successful is the GW Mock Trial Program?
In recent years, GW has fielded one of the most competitive teams in the
country. Last April, GW placed first in the Lundgren-Risk Division of the National Championship Tournament, marking the highest finish in program history. As a result of our success, GW will start the 2008-2009 season ranked 1st in the nation by AMTA.