Hampton Resident to Compete in Regional Mock Trial Tourney

Margaret O'Leary, of Hampton, a history major and member of Saint Anselm College's Class of 2014, has been named to the college's 2014 mock trial team and will be competing in the Northeast Regional tournament from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.

Organized by the American Mock Trial Association and hosted at Saint Anselm College, the Northeast regionals consist of four rounds of competition with Round 1 on Friday evening, Rounds 2 and 3 on Saturday, and Round 4 on Sunday. Round 4 concludes the weekend and will be followed by an awards banquet in Davison Hall.

"Being chosen three years in arrow as a host is a testament to the welcoming environment we have here at Saint Anselm," said Jean Couture, director of student activities at Saint Anselm College and co-host, along with Fr. Mathias Durette, O.S.B., for the tournament. "It also speaks volumes to our Benedictine tradition."

The Saint Anselm mock trial team was founded four years ago by alumnae Alyssa Hatem '12 and Alexandra Puglisi '11. It has grown exponentially in that time, celebrating significant victories and earning respect from the mock trial community. 

This year, the college will field a team of 10 students who will compete against 23 other teams from schools such as Dartmouth, Boston Colllege, Tufts, Brown, Bowdoin, and others. Students will fill the roles of attorneys and witnesses. A total of 71 judges will also be involved, many of them Saint Anselm alumni.

"Mock Trial allows our students the opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills under pressure and in front of real attorneys and judges," said Couture in a release. "It's also an opportunity to network with other students and alumni from around the region."

The top seven teams will receive a bid to an Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS) tournament in March. After the ORCS round, the top six teams from each ORCS tournament will receive a bid to the National Championship Tournament in Florida in April.

Saint Anselm College is a Catholic, Benedictine liberal arts college founded in 1889 and located in Manchester.

Information provided to Patch by readMedia Newswire