Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Rachel Schwartz

"It was like that game Pong," said Suffolk Law student, John Martin. "Amy [Martin] had the opening argument and as she walked in front of the judges they watched her as intently as they used to watch Pong back in the '80s. It was during that moment that I thought 'Wow, we might bring this back for the seventh time in a row,' that's unheard of."
John Martin is describing the win that he, and fellow law student Amy Martin, had during the Regional portion of the annual National Trial Competition. John Martin described the NTC's as the, "Superbowl" of Mock Trail Competitions.
"When they announced that we were going to nationals, it was such an honor," said Amy Martin. "To be the final two that are representing the entire region is so exciting. We put so many hours into preparing and we just want to go out there and put it into action."
With this most recent win, Suffolk Law has been named New England Regional Champion for seven consecutive years. The Suffolk Law National Trial Team, which currently consists of 21 members, is headed by advisor professor Timothy Wilton and trial coach Bobby Hazelton.
"The Mock Trial Team at Suffolk is a great program," said John Martin. "Previous winners of the Mock Trials continue to come back and it is such a great learning experience. We meet from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. every Sunday. Professor Wilton, previous students, and other coaches really teach you what actually goes on in a court room."
To become apart of the Mock Trial Team, Wilton, Hazelton and other coaches hold interviews with each of the prospective students. Once the group has been narrowed down, they go through a "slotting session" and each advocate participates in three rounds - direct examination, cross examination and each student plays a witness.
The teams spend the fall semester competing in a series of smaller regional competitions in preparation for the spring competitions - the National Trial Competition and the American Association of Justice Competition.
"The Trial Program has been the best experience that I have had during Law school," said Amy Martin. "It has definitely prepared me to be a trial lawyer."
During the competition, real life scenarios are simulated. John Martin and Amy Martin's most recent mock trial involved a wrongful death suit based on a car accident in which they represented the Plaintiff.
The purpose of the National Trial Competition is to expand on the education competitors receive. Judges are not informed which school each group belongs to in order to maintain equality during the mock trial; instead they are assigned a team number. Teams' are scored based on their opening statements, direct examinations, cross-examinations, and their closing argument.

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