Seton Hall University Hosts First American Mock Trial Association Regional Tournament

Seton Hall University’s Undergraduate Mock Trial Program hosted its first-ever American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) Regional Tournament this month, demonstrating continued advancement within the community.  Hosting an AMTA tournament has long been seen as a marker of distinction within the AMTA community, and for the first time in 19 years, Seton Hall University was selected as a host site after a rigorous application process. The regional tournament, held at multiple sites in the month of February, signifies the first round in AMTAs National Championship format where 730 teams from across the country compete for bids to the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS). Of the 730 teams that compete in the regional tournament, only 198 will advance to ORCS in March.

The effort to host the Newark Regional tournament began in September when Seton Hall University responded to a request for proposal and was selected over a dozen top schools in the Mid-Atlantic. Spearheading the effort was the SHU Mock Coaching staff: Head Coach Jaclyn Emm (’21), traveling coaches Melania Gluch (’24) and Meaghan Phillips (’24), and program director Myles Einhorn (’22). The coaching staff worked with AMTA and university stakeholders to make every preparation when nearly 300 students from close to 20 different universities were invited to compete at the Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey.

In addition, the tournament AMTA undergraduate competitions are scored by volunteer judges who comprise professors, attorneys, sitting or retired judges and Mock Trial alumni. Seton Hall University was commended by AMTA for the overwhelming number of volunteers who dedicated their time to students. With such a strong base of support, Seton Hall Mock Trial’s alumnus came in full force with close to two dozen members dating back more than 15 years to help make the Newark Regional a success. Because of the efforts made by the coaching staff, Tournament Director Nicholas Owens (L’24), and university partners at both the undergraduate level and law school, the Newark Regional will be rated as one of the best regional tournaments in the country.

Members of Seton Hall’s Mock Trial team also had the privilege to compete as well. Two of our teams, led by Scott Kirwin (’28), Raven Ortiz (’28), William Biasi (’27) and Anthony Mangano Jr. (’26), competed against some of the most notable programs in the country, including Tufts University, St. John’s University, Iona University and Connecticut College, to name a few. Our SHU Mock Trial team members cumulatively finished with a record of seven wins and nine losses a notable achievement as the teams are comprised primarily of new members to our program this academic year.

At the AMTA Newark Regional, it took a minimum of six wins and two losses to advance to the next competition, the ORCS that will hosted by Iona University in New Rochelle, NY. Cornell University A, Cornell University B, Tufts University, Columbia University A, Yale University A, and Yale University B all finished above the threshold to advance. An honorable mention was given to Pace University, who finished just short of the threshold on a tie-break. The full results of the Newark Regional Tournament can be reviewed here.

Seton Hall University Undergraduate Mock Trial wants to thank Brandon Harper, Buchanan Vines and everyone at AMTA for their faith in hosting the event. Further, we would also like to thank our colleagues at the School of Law, especially Dean Ronald Weich, for welcoming more than 400 competitors and attendees to use their facilities over the course of an outstanding weekend.

Stay tuned as Seton Hall’s A and B teams travel to Connecticut College at the end of February to compete at their regional tournament and hopefully advance to ORCS held in New Rochelle, NY, at Iona College.

For more information, please contact Myles Einhorn, Director of the Undergraduate Mock Trial Program, at myles.einhorn@shu.edu. 

Categories: Law