Eight UF students took home the first and second place spots at a national mock trial competition in Alexandria, Va., last week.
The 2011 Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Conference and Mock Trial Competition was held Wednesday through Saturday. It required participants to analyze and present a case to a panel of practicing attorneys and Washington, D.C.-area judges.
Criminology senior Brandon Breslow, 21, said UF's case was interesting because it was given the opportunity to challenge whether a person with Asperger's syndrome, a developmental disorder, was aware of committing a crime.
"The trial was perfect," said Christina Ertel, vice president of the organization and the mock trial coach. "Everyone was on their game, their arguments were right on point, and they were able to read the judge and respond to objections very articulately."
Fourteen teams participated in the mock trial portion of the conference, including the two from UF.
UF also won awards for Best Prosecution Team, Best Defense Team and Best Witness.
"We took home every award that was allocated to the mock trial competition," said Ertel, a 21-year-old political science senior.
Criminology junior Mallory Cooney, 20, said she never thought she'd be ready to compete after one semester of training.
"But we have such a great program that I really had a good foundation," Cooney said.
Eight UF students took the first and second place spots at the 2011 Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Conference and Mock Trial Competition in Alexandria, Va., last week.
