Mock Trial is a team-based competitive simulation of a courtroom trial. Participants in Collegiate Mock Trial assume the roles of both attorneys and witnesses, using critical thinking, public speaking skills, and a thorough knowledge of trial law to compete against other schools in full “mock” trials.
Most mock trial tournaments typically involve a series of trial competitions. Each trial consists of two teams of six people, with one team representing the plaintiff or state and one team representing the defense. Competitors take the roles of witnesses and attorneys, performing opening statements, closing statements, and direct and cross examinations before a panel of scoring judges. Competition for the entire academic year revolves around a single civil or criminal case, which is released by the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA).
Princeton Mock Trial is a highly competitive and successful program. Our teams consistently qualify out of regional tournaments and compete in the National Tournament each year against the best teams in the nation. In addition to competing, Princeton Mock Trial holds two Moot Court competitions each year for local high schools. This allows us to help high school students develop their own debating and public speaking skills as well as their knowledge of constitutional law.
Princeton Mock Trial has four teams that compete in invitational and official AMTA tournaments. They are named with their AMTA team numbers. The teams are largely independent of each other and establish their own practice schedules and meeting times individually. For more information, visit the website at www.princeton.edu/~mt/
