Mock Trial Teams

View the UNF Student Mock Trial Organization Homepage

The 2006 Mock Trial Team in Tallahassee at a regional tournament.  They finished one place below a bid to the national tournament in St. Petersberg.

View Mock Trial Teams History Slideshow

The University joined the American Mock Trial Association, during the 1995-96 academic year, and competed in intercollegiate mock trial competition for the first time.

After finishing sixth, out of twenty-five competing teams, in the Southeast Regional Qualifying Tournament UNF received a bid to the prestigious “Gold Division” of the American Mock Trial Association, which is located in Des Moines, Iowa. UNF was only the second first-year team in eleven years to receive a bid to that division.

Alexis Gaines (L) was the top vote-getter at the 2003 Southeastern Conference Mock Trial tournament. Michael Kalil (R) also was voted to the Regional All-Attorney Team.

Intercollegiate Mock Trial competition has become a very popular endeavor on the UNF campus and students have formed a Mock Trial organization, which meets regularly and raises funds to help defray travel costs to participate in various tournaments.

During the 2000-2001 competition, UNF’s teams were jointly awarded the prestigious “Spirit of AMTA” award for “civility, fair play, and justice.” The teams received the award at both the regional and national competitions. This is the only award voted on by all competing teams. Again during the 2001-2002 regional competition, UNF’s “veteran” team received the “Spirit of AMTA” award.

Associate Professor Glenn Coffey has both J.D. and Ph.D. degrees and has coached the Mock Trial Teams for 3 years.

Dr. Glenn Coffey, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, has taken over as Educator Coach of the Mock Trial Teams. Dr. Coffey serves on the Program Board of Advisors and has coached several award winning teams.

Numerous UNF students have won individual awards as well. Casey Ratchford, a scholarship and law review student at Washington & Lee University Law School, was an All-American Attorney in national competition, and was chosen to make the defense’s closing argument at the national tournament several years ago. Jessica Stebbins won an All-Region Outstanding Attorney award and was a key member of the award-winning 2001 team. An impressive student, Jessica won the coveted Gates-Cambridge scholarship to study at Cambridge University in London. She will attend Yale Law School. Her younger sister Karyn was an All-Region witness in 2001.

Dr. Glenn Coffey and team members Dominique Scalia, David Thompson, and Kristin D'Francesco, at a national tournament.

In the 2002 regional competition three UNF students won individual honors. Eric Roberson was voted All-Regional Attorney, receiving the most points of any student-attorney. He will attend the Levin College of Law, at the University of Florida. Kate Shonina, playing the role of a doctor, and Jamie Ibrahim, playing the role of a janitor, garnered All-Regional Witness awards.