Wittenberg University

Wittenberg Mock Trial Team Earns Respect in Cleveland, Prepares for Trials Nov. 21 and Dec. 5

From left: Eric Rey '07, Arthur Kraatz '07, Amanda Wiesehan '07, Defiance, Ohio; Richard Gordon '07, Adam Stone '06, Bucyrus, Ohio; Ashley Craft '07, VanWert, Ohio; Ryan Deutschendorf '07, Northville, Mich.; Gregg Carter '06, Wellsville, Ohio. Not pictured: Matt Reiss '07 and Laura Prahl '07.

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg University Mock Trial Association team competed in a four-round mock trial invitation tournament hosted by Case Western Reserve and Myers University on Nov. 5-7, which was held at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Participating along with 17 schools from around the nation, Wittenberg was ranked No.1 from the first round and consistently competed in the winner’s bracket. Defeated in the fourth round by the University of Michigan, Wittenberg’s team ended the tournament with a 4-4 record.

Wittenberg’s team will host a two-round scrimmage against Wilmington College, which will be held at noon and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21. Another scrimmage against Ohio Northern University will take place at 12 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5. Both events will be held at the Clark County Municipal Court Building in downtown Springfield, Ohio. In February 2005, Wittenberg will participate in the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) Regional Competition to compete for a bid to a national tournament or championship.

At the Cleveland Invitational, individual awards were presented to the top 10 attorneys and witnesses from the approximately 125 participating students. Wittenberg team members recognized included Arthur Kraatz ’07, from Strongsville, Ohio, a political science major/pre-law, who received the Best Attorney and Best Witness award; Eric Rey ’07, from Grosse Point Woods, Mich., a history major/pre-law, who received honorable mention as Best Attorney; and Richard Gordon ’07, from Springfield, Ohio, a psychology major/pre-medicine, who received honorable mention as Best Witness.

The team has improved from last year, according to team coach Johnny Pryor ’99, adjunct instructor of community education at Wittenberg. “Our team has the potential to compete at the national level,” Pryor said.

Johnny Pryor '99

After graduating from Wittenberg, Pryor earned his J.D. from Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington, in 2002. He competed on the trial competition team in Indiana for two years and was selected as a National Member of the Order of Barristers for his trial advocacy performance. In addition to teaching “Literature and the Law” this fall at his alma mater, Pryor is an assistant Clark County prosecutor and also serves on the Wittenberg Career Services Advisory Council and the university’s alumni board.

Each year, Wittenberg’s mock trial team receives a packet of case materials from the American Mock Trial Association to prepare a court case to argue against other colleges and universities. Each team is comprised of six to eight students, typically three attorneys and three witnesses. During the fall semester, the team participates in invitational tournaments and scrimmages in Ohio.

“Mock trial provides a challenging and exciting opportunity for students to learn first hand about the work of trial attorneys by preparing a court case,” Pryor said. “In addition, students gain a better understanding of the judicial system while developing critical thinking and communication skills. As a member of the mock trial team, a student learns trial advocacy skills by serving as an attorney and a witness.”

Ideal for students interested in becoming trial attorneys or considering law school, mock trial is also appropriate for students who enjoy acting or find the legal system interesting.

Wittenberg’s Mock Trial Association meets weekly on Tuesday and Sunday. For more information, e-mail s07.akraatz@wittenberg.edu or call Pryor at (937) 327-7076.