Students Seek Judges for Feb. 20-21
Mock Trial Regional Tournament

Students at CMC have a tendency to do things their own way, and the members of the CMC Mock Trial Program are no exception. As a nationally-acclaimed program that has quadrupled in size since its origins, CMC Mock Trial is one of the only college mock trial groups in the country that is student-run. At most other colleges, the students are coached and trained by attorneys or faculty, but at CMC, from budgeting and scheduling to case theory and court procedure, the students are in charge.
Roxanne Phen '10, a member of the CMC Mock Trial Board says members rely on one another to "get it all done.
"We teach each other," she says, of the presentations. "We help each other practice direct and cross examinations."
The program not only is unique in its student leadership within the team; CMC Mock Trial is one of the only teams to host a student-run Regional Tournament.
Regional tournaments held across the country serve as qualifiers for the National Championship Seriesthe mock trial postseason. The American Mock Trial Association bestows the privilege of hosting these important competitions upon a few institutions across the country, and for the past three years, CMC has been one of the only student-run programs chosen to host. This year, their regional tournament will be the largest, organizers say, bringing together more than 30 teams and 200 competitors from California, Utah, and Arizona.
That's where the team is looking for help, hoping alumni will step forward to serve as judges for the tournament later this month.
"Hosting the regional has always been a challenge," Darell Hayes, this year's tournament coordinator, explains, "but this year we faced unexpected roadblocks because of California's fiscal condition."
In the past, a local courthouse had provided complimentary use of its facilities for the competition, but due to budgetary constraints this year, the court required reimbursement for security and rental fees which were cost-prohibitive for CMC's student-run program.
"It seemed like we had nowhere to go," Hayes says.
But that didn't stop them from trying. Students enlisted the support of CMC President Pamela Gann to reach out to Southwestern Law Schoola large, public service-oriented law school in Los Angelesfor financial support. "Southwestern seemed like a good fit since it is service-oriented and has strong ties in the Los Angeles legal community," says Abhi Nemani '10, the program's president. "Plus, the regional tournament would be a good opportunity for them to connect with law-minded college students."
Southwestern agreed and offered to cover the cost of the courthouse.
With the financial worries solved, students still needed to find a courthouse, so they decided to do what CMCers do so well: play politics. Hayes said, "The hold-up was in the bureaucracy. No courthouse was getting back to us, so we needed to find someone who could get their attention."
After contacting a number of representatives in Sacramento, the students soon received word from Assemblyman Mike Eng's office that they were willing to contact the Los Angeles Superior Court. Soon after, they were able to formalize arrangements to host the tournament at the Stanley Mosk Superior Courthouse, and on Southwestern's campus in downtown Los Angeles on Feb. 20-21.
"We were thrilled to be able to host the tournament," said Hayes, "but that was really just the start of the planning."
The two-day tournament involves more than 60 rounds of competition, with a panel of three volunteer judgesreal attorneys, law students, and judgesnecessary for each round.
"We need a huge number of judges," says Nemani, "at least 100, but I am confident that we will fill the slots. We have always leaned on the CMC community, with alumni and friends stepping up to help us."
Those interested in judging may sign up online: http://cmcmocktrial.com/judge.