The University of New England Political Science Department announces its first Mock Trial Competition.  Organized by professor James Roche, visiting assistant professor of Political Science, the Mock Trial is scheduled for Saturday, November 21.

UNE's three multi-purpose rooms will be set up as courtrooms. Teams from Colby College and the University of New Hampshire, as well as three teams from UNE, will participate. Two Maine state attorneys, a New Hampshire state attorney, a former judge and three other attorneys with significant litigation experience will act as judges,and volunteers have been recruited to act as jurors.
 
The case to be tried is the American Mock Trial Association's official mock trial case, State v. Jackie Owens, a murder case. This case is being tried by colleges all over the country in preparation for the regional tournaments in February 2010. Each mock trial team is required to put on its case (teams will either be prosecutors or defense counsel, depending upon a coin flip). These teams will perform opening and closing statements, cross examinations, direct examinations, evidentiary motions, etc.  Scores will be released shortly after the close of the event.