ONU Hosted Mock Trial Invitational Tournament

The ONU Mock Trial Program finished another year. While not as successful as in other years, there were still numerous bright spots in the 2011-1012 Season. The best finish for the team was 4^th place at the Illinois State University.

Directed by Dr. Jo Ann Scott and supported by HPJ and the Pettit College of Law, the 6th Annual "Polar Bear" Invitational Mock Trial tournament on January 14-15, 2012 brought 38 teams from across the U.S. to our campus. The tournament format consisted of two rounds on Saturday and two rounds on Sunday.

Case Summary: The year the students are litigating a criminal case. On September 24, 2010, Vanessa Sullivan, daughter of midlands' most prominent prosecutor, celebrated her 21st birthday with two friends, Taylor Hopson and Danny Dawson, at Chuggie's Sports Bar. After several hours of celebration at the bar, the three left in a car driven by Dawson. On the way home, Dawson lost control of the car, resulting in a crash in which Sullivan was killed. A special prosecutor was appointed because of the conflict of interest in having the victm's parent's office prosecute the case. A grand jury has returned a multi-count indictment charging the defendant, Danny Dawson, with murder and driving under the influence.

Among the awards earned by individual team members this year were:

SCARLET AND GRAY TOURNAMENT, October 14-16
HOST: THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
FRANKLIN HOWARD----OUTSTANDING ATTORNEY AWARD
LISA BRADLEY----OUTSTANDING WITNESS AWARD
CAITLIN HIGGINS----OUTSTANDING WITNESS AWARD
LUAREN LIGHTCAP----OUTSTANDING WITNESS AWARD

EKU “ROBERT SANDERS” INVITATIONAL , October 28-30
LISA BRADLEY----OUTSTANDING ATTORNEY

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY, November 11-12
LISA BRADLEY----OUTSTANDING ATTORNEY
LAUREN LIGHTCAP----OUTSTANDING WITNESS (BOTH PROSECUTION & DFENSE)
TEAM 1120: 4^TH PLACE (4^TH OUT OF 30 TEAMS)

UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS MIDWEST CHALLENGER, December 2-4
TABITHA MOODY----OUTSTANDING ATTORNEY
MELDOY SMITH----OUTSTANDING WITNESS

POLAR BEAR INVITATIONAL MOCK TRIAL TOURNAMENT, January 15-16
HOST: OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY
LISA BRADLEY----OUTSTANDING ATTORNEY
MELDOY SMITH----OUTSTANDING WITNESS

CINCINNATI REGIONAL QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT, February 24-26HOST: UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
LISA BRADLEY----OUTSTANDING ATTORNEY

Well done representing HPJ and ONU this year, and better luck for team success next year!