UD’s First Mock Trial Team Heads to Regionals
The University of Dallas made history in Waco this past weekend when the first ever UD Mock Trial Team competed in the American Mock Trial Association’s 2025 Waco Regionals. The nine-person team, composed entirely of freshmen, finished the tournament with a successful 2-2 record, winning one defense and one plaintiff trial against St. Mary’s University and Lamar University, respectively.
The team also took home the “Spirit of AMTA” Award, given to the school with the most sportsmanship and professionalism before, during, and after trials. To cap it off, freshman Seamus Malloy was named one of nine Outstanding Witnesses out of the 20 schools that attended. The Outstanding Witness award is given to those who display excellent character, knowledge of case content, and ability to think creatively and critically.
Mock Trial is a competition sport held by the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), where they simulate a real courtroom trial. Teams of typically six to 10 students compete on both plaintiff and defense to prove their case to a judge. The season typically runs the length of the school year, beginning with the case release in the fall and ending with the National Championship Competition in May.
This year’s case was centered on the death of a fictitious millionaire Avery Bancroft, who passed suddenly on a luxury passenger train in April of 2024. Bancroft’s child and defendant in the case, Taylor Hopson, was accused of facilitating the death which, pursuant to a slayer statute, would have rendered her ineligible to collect her inheritance. Teams argued, based on the statute, whether or not the defendant was in fact involved.
This season, UD’s three Mock Trial attorneys were Megan Hix, Jonas Newland and Jude Self. Mock Trial attorneys work to paint a picture of the case for the judge using various witnesses who were involved.
Hix, UD’s Mock Trial captain, said, “My favorite part of being an attorney was having to think on my feet and quickly adapt our case to specifically counter that of the other teams.”
UD’s 2025 Mock Trial Witnesses are Gregory Uhlich, Cecilia Fojut, Joshua Moran, Seamus Malloy, Madelyn Zadnik and Bryanna Farris. Gregory Uhlich, who played the meticulous and organized personal assistant to Avery Bancroft, said, “I liked getting to really find my character in the affidavit so that I really felt like I had a strong idea of who he was when I took the stand.”
Witnesses get to play a character who contributes valuable information to the trial, and they’re sometimes pretty out there. This season, UD’s Seamus Malloy portrayed Kelly Doos, the eccentric social media influencer and boyfriend of Taylor Hopson.
Malloy said, “My favorite part about being a witness was learning to actively fight back on cross-examinations, and the art of subtly providing information from the case file in a way that most helped the defendant’s case. I believe my ability to do that, along with the flavorful character I was able to present due to my performing arts background, was what helped me win an outstanding witness award at regionals. I’m super grateful to all my teammates who helped prepare me.”
Sophomore student leaders Sophia Choberka and Grace Hamilton came along for the ride, as well as faculty advisor Dr. Thomas Schneider. Choberka and Hamilton, both returning from Rome this semester, threw themselves into the whirlwind of competition season to help ready the team for Regionals.
Hamilton said of the experience, “Every meeting was full of laughs. We have great group chemistry and we all collectively want to make the group better. I’m so excited to compete and be an attorney next year, as well as have more resources for the club and collaborate with my junior peers. We have a lot of strong people at UD and I’m looking forward to what the next season will bring.”
Mock Trial is a great learning experience and preparation for pre-law students, but you don’t have to be considering law school to join a team.
“I loved being a part of an amazing team of people who shared similar interests in mock trial,” witness Bryanna Farris said. “My experience has allowed me to consider a pre-law track even though I’m a psychology major.” Mock trial is for anyone interested in debate, drama or developing public speaking and critical thinking skills. You can check out UD Mock Trial’s adventures through the instagram handle @udallasmocktrial. If you’re interested in joining a mock trial team for the 2025-2026 competition year, please contact mhix@udallas.edu, ghamilton@udallas.edu or schoberka@udallas.edu.