By Michaele Turnage
Daily Bruin Contributor
UCLA argues the best in the West ““ when it comes to mock
trials that is.
The university’s mock trial team placed first and second
in the western regional competition of the American Collegiate Mock
Trial Association tournament earlier this month.
This is the first time UCLA has placed first in regionals. The
past four years, teams from UCLA have consistently ranked high
enough ““ among the top three ““ in the regional
competition to advance to nationals.
“We were thrilled and stunned,” said Trisha Ranney,
a second-year sociology and women’s studies student, who
played a witness on the team that placed first.
UCLA triumphed over teams from UC Berkeley, Arizona State and
Stanford University in the regional competition.
UCLA, which suffered several pitfalls on its way to regionals,
including the resignation of a member, sudden switch of roles and
team members arguing the night before competition, pulled through
for a first-place finish.
“We came together when it counted,” Ranney said.
Mock trial teams face the challenge of breathing life into what
often can be a dull court case. Teams prepare to present both the
plaintiff and defense cases, including opening and closing
statements, direct examination and cross examination of witnesses.
A coin toss 30 minutes before trial determines which side a team
will argue.
Team members fill the roles of three attorneys and six
witnesses. The UCLA teams did extensive research and practiced at
least three hours a week since receiving this year’s case in
November, Ranney said.
Ranney played the part of a medical witness. Beyond dressing the
part, the team consulted a doctor and medical student.
Because this year’s case concerned the death of a person
on Mt. Everest, Fiana Kumetz, a fifth-year art history student,
said the team asked medical experts to explain high altitude
diseases in laymen’s and medical terms so that Ranney would
be a credible witness.
The teams also held scrimmages with each other and hosted an
invitational competition earlier this year to prepare for the
tournament.
Keith Fichtelman, director of UCLA’s teams, played a vital
role in organizing the university’s first invitational, where
they hosted 10 teams from all over the country.
“The invitational gave people who hadn’t been in
college competition before a chance to see what it’s
like” said Tom Dunlevy, a third-year English and Spanish
student.
All four of UCLA’s mock trial teams are sponsored through
the Pre-Law Society, though not all team members are planning to go
to law school. Two of the four teams ““ the maximum allowed
from one school ““ will compete in the national competition in
Des Moines, Iowa, during the last weekend of March.
Kumetz, whose parents are both attorneys, said cross-examining a
witness as middle attorney gives her an adrenaline rush.
“You know you are leading this person by the hand until
they are trapped in a corner and you make your client look
great,” she said. “It’s mostly acting.”
According to Kumetz, most people involved in mock trials have
competed before and are a mix of theater and pre-law students. She
and her teammates agreed the experience has been rewarding.
Dunlevy, who played an attorney and a witness, enjoys the
competitiveness of mock trial.
“The big kick I get is being nervous beforehand,”
Dunlevy said. “Once I get started and I know where I’m
going, I get this sense of calm and I like the feeling of having
that confidence.”
Team members said regardless of whether students plan to go into
law, they will gain invaluable skills from competing in mock
trials.
“Whether you want to go to law school or not, there is the
dramatic side,” Ranney said. “You learn to form good
arguments, and a lot of times you meet people you would have never
come across.”