A participant has died on the set of a game show. What first appeared to be a tragic stunt gone wrong has taken a dark turn. An autopsy later revealed that the victim had inhaled oxalic acid before performing the stunt, turning what seemed like an unfortunate accident into a possible case of murder. Your firm has just taken on the case, and it is up to you to determine whether this was a freak accident or a fellow contestant's cold, calculated murder plot.
For the average person, the first steps to take in preparing to argue or defend a possible murder case may seem overwhelming. However, the 91ֿ Mock Trial Team doesn’t have time to be overwhelmed. The team only has six months to learn about this fictional case inside and out before acting it out during its competition season. The team will head to Penn State University in mid-February to compete in the Regional Competition.
“It’s really fascinating because there are so many ways to argue it from both sides,” said team president Taylor Pierce, a senior criminology and justice studies major, meaning from the prosecution side and the defense side arguments.
Pierce, who has participated in mock trials since middle school, said 91ֿ’s team has come a long way since its founding in 2021. Structured as a student organization but run like a varsity sports team, the team now has 26 members across two to three groups, each with prosecution and defense sides.
“It’s a lot,” Pierce said. “At minimum, it’s like adding another class. We meet twice weekly for two hours; they are mandatory meetings.”
Not only does the team meet often to practice, but they also host events for high school and college students interested in Mock Trial.
“In November [2025], we hosted our third annual Black Squirrel Battle, where high schools from all over the state are invited to compete. We also hosted our third annual Golden Flash Legal Clash, where colleges from all over the country were invited to come compete,” Pierce said. “We had two of our own teams compete in that competition as well.”
Every student on the team studies a 300-page case file before they begin crafting an opening statement. The team spends months building arguments, scrimmaging against each other and adjusting strategies before official competitions begin in November. Once competitions began, the Mock Trial Team headed to the University of Rochester to compete alongside several Ivy League schools. These local and national experiences provide students with the opportunity to test their skills against the best in the country while gaining a broader perspective on the legal field.
“We made it to the championship round and placed in the top four teams for the first time in our program history,” Pierce said.
The team also won individual awards. Lilliain Bradshaw Sr., a senior criminology and justice studies major, won an Outstanding Witness Award. Aricka Spaulding, senior criminology major, and Pierce both won Outstanding Attorney Awards.
Each season, the American Mock Trial Association hosts 32 regional tournaments, eight opening-round championship tournaments and a national championship tournament. Approximately 700 teams from over 400 universities and colleges compete in these tournaments. The association provides a forum for over 7,300 undergraduate students each academic year to engage in intercollegiate mock trial competitions across the country.
“Every year we try to start from ground zero because even people who are interested in law don’t always know what an opening statement looks like, or they don’t know the general format of the trial,” Pierce told 91ֿ Today.
Mock Trial coach Pat Lowery, an adjunct professor at 91ֿ, provides students with deep partnerships and industry connections by bringing her perspective as a practicing attorney to the team. She recently returned to lead the team after a year away and said this group’s dedication stands out to her.
“We have three groups, but really we’re one team,” Lowery said. “They’re extremely dedicated; some have caught on a little faster than others, but all of them are so dedicated.”
Lowery is a practicing attorney and is optimistic about the team's chances this year. Lowery has also spent time as a judge in regional and national mock trial competitions, so she knows what judges are looking for.
“The exciting part is they’re good enough, I think, to beat the law schools, if we were up against them,” Lowery said.
Despite the team's success and growth, funding remains a hurdle. Mock trial competitions require travel, lodging and registration fees, which add up quickly.
“I would hate to not do something because of the funding,” Lowery said, noting that since the team does not receive funding from the university, it looks to outside sources like alumni or alumni law firms to help cover expenses.
Despite having to get creative with funding, the team’s spirits and progress are undeniable. Pierce said the group has already improved communication and preparation, and the results in competitions are proof.
“We’ve had individual success, best witness or best attorney; our teams are mind-blowing,” she said.
Competitions are judged not on the case's verdict, but on performance. How well students argue, handle objections and apply the rules of evidence are all based on acting the part out. This structure pushes students to master courtroom etiquette and procedure while keeping the focus on skill, not outcome.
“It’s nerve-wracking,” Pierce said. “Friday nights, there’s papers everywhere. Saturday morning, we’re up and ready to go at the crack of dawn.”
Team Blue Members
Taylor Pierce, senior, criminology and justice studies major and pre-law minor; Aricka Spaulding, senior, criminology and psychology major; Sarah Jaberg, senior, criminology and justice studies major; Cash Liedel, senior, political science major and pre-law minor; Landry Torres, senior, communications studies major, pre-law minor; Peyton DeForce, senior history major and pre-law and philosophy minors; Lilly Berkhouse, junior, political science major, pre-law minor; Emma Curd, senior, political science major, pre-law and sociology minors; Joey Gagorik, junior, political science major, criminology minor.
Team White Members
Colin Anderson, senior, psychology major, pre-law minor; Anila Palmer, senior, political science major, criminology minor; Lilliain Bradshaw Sr., senior, criminology and justice studies major, English and paralegal studies minors; Dann Jackson, junior, international studies major, religious studies minor; Reagan Shackelford, junior, psychology major; Jonathan (Dio) Murphy, sophomore, political science major; Luke Konopka, junior, political science major; Ellen Hennis, junior, political science major, business minor; Michael Elaro, sophomore, journalism major, communications studies minor; Bea Villa, sophomore, biology major, pre-med minor.