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2008 Tournament InformationThe 2008 American Mock Trial Association Regional Tournament will be held at Syracuse University on February 15-17, 2008. Details are available online now! About Mock TrialThe Syracuse University Mock Trial Team provides an excellent introduction to the dynamics of trial advocacy. Students learn how to argue a case, examine and cross examine witnesses, be successful in the rigorous courtroom environment, and forge a coherent team that capitalizes on individual talents. Students also learn the rules of evidence and the logic of legal reasoning. The SU Mock Trial Team is coached by SU alumni trial attorneys and competes in tournaments sponsored by the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA). Teams are selected and trained in the fall semester for the spring round of competitions. Students gain excellent presentation and critical thinking skills and can earn credit for what former mock trail students have said is an excellent, and fun way to learn. The Syracuse University Mock Trial Team is known across the country as well, having competed in the National Tournament in each of the past five years. In fact, the 2001 Team placed second in the National Championship Tournament, in 2004 the Team placed tenth, and in 2005 two SU teams placed ninth and tenth. Tournament Cases:
2007-2008 On November 30, 2006, Child Protective Services worker Don/Dawn Francis arrived at the home of Bobbi Campbell to remove a child from Bobbi’s care. Upon arrival, Francis entered the location and defendant Campbell stabbed Francis with a needle infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. On October 1, 2007, Campbell entered into an Alford plea on the single charge of Assault in the Second Degree and retained the right to a jury sentence recommendation. A penalty phase will now be conducted. The State will present evidence of aggravation and the defense may present evidence of mitigation. The penalty range is five to thirty years. 2006-2007 On January 2, 2005, off-duty police officer Jamie Conmey heard a radio transmission come over dispatch saying that two suspects had just robbed Joe’s Corner Store. The description said that the perpetrators were wearing white T-shirts and blue jeans, appeared to be teenagers, and had taken the cash in a brown paper bag. Officer Conmey put on the siren and started searching the neighborhood surrounding the store. Officer Conmey saw a teenager dressed in a white shirt and jeans climbing a fence in an alleyway.Officer Conmey pulled over and told the teenager to come down. The teenager stopped climbing the fence but did not come down. Seconds later, Officer Conmey shot the teenager in the side. Officer Conmey claims to have seen a gun, though no weapon was found at the scene. The teenager was rushed to the hospital as quickly as possible, where the teenager almost immediately fell into a coma a state in which the teenager remains today. The teenager was Max Jeffries. Max’s parents, Sean and Leigh Jeffries, filed suit against the Polk County Police Department, alleging that the actions of Officer Conmey, who committed suicide shortly after the incident, and thus the Polk County Police Department, deprived Max Jeffries of Jeffries’ constitutional rights to due process of law.
On Friday, October 22, 2004, after returning home from a night out with the soccer team, Bailey Reynolds was kidnapped from the Reynolds home. That evening Bailey’s parents, Ryan and Madison Reynolds, were having dinner at the residence of Tyler and K.C. Perry. The couples both live in Evanston, Midlands. They had left their three children, Kayla, Spencer, and Bailey with the babysitter, Peyton Bralow. After checking on Bailey around 11:00PM, Peyton placed a 911 call to report a possible kidnapping. The police arrived shortly after the call was placed and found Peyton, Kayla and Spencer in the home. Upon investigation, a ransom note was found in Bailey’s room asking for $250,000 for the return of the child. Three days later on Monday, October 25th, Bailey was found in a Hampton Hotel in the neighboring town of Freeport. The child was blindfolded and handcuffed to a pipe in the bathroom. Bailey was not physically injured and was returned to the Reynolds. After the police investigation, Tyler Perry was arrested for the kidnapping 2003-2004
Tony Sturmanis was a rising star in the world of professional hockey. Tragically, he was killed during a playoff game in Midlands City following a fight with Michael Harmon. Harmon was later indicted on three counts of homicide. His wife, Victoria, had recently been romantically linked to Sturmanis. Also, Harmon lost a lucrative contract to Sturmanis just hours before the confrontation during the game. 2002-2003
On February 8, 2002, Derric Smith, a seven-year-old boy, died as a result of allegedly being struck by a vehicle in front of his home in State Center, Midlands. J.J. Thompson, the defendant, is being sued by the parents of Derric Smith for allegedly hitting their son thereby causing his wrongful and untimely death. 2001-2002
On the evening of March 15th, 2001, Wendell Tucker, partner at Tucker, Roberts, and Payne, was found dead in his office at the advertising firm - the victim of a gunshot wound to the head. An investigation lead to a grand jury indictment of Ashley Thornhill for murder and the lesser included offenses of manslaughter and negligent homicide. Thornhill, an associate at Tucker, Roberts, and Payne, denies any involvement in the killing. |
