CWU’s Mock Trial Club is an award winning competitive team of aspiring legal professionals, and this past Friday they hosted their annual “Spring Trial.” The trial follows the structure of a real court case, with a defense and a prosecution taking turns arguing their cases, cross examining witnesses and eventually facing the verdict of a jury of their peers. All aspects of the trial were student run except for the judge, who was an actual judge that volunteered to take on the yearly trial.

This year’s case revolved around the murder of Avery Bancroft. In this fictional case, Bancroft died on a train in Australia, suffering cardiac arrest after consuming an excess of potassium from banana extract. Essentially, he was poisoned. The goal of the case was to determine if one Taylor Hopson would be found liable for the murder. And after hours of trial and a short period of deliberation, the answer would be provided by the jury: Not liable.

Dana Culley, a sophomore double majoring in law & justice and psychology, will take over as president of the Mock Trial Club come the 2025-2026 school year. Culley explained the extensive prep that goes into one of these trials. “For our Spring Trial, we start prepping a little over a month in advance,” Culley said. “When it comes down to roles, there’s options of being an attorney, witness, or no preference.”

“Once members have submitted their options, the coaches work together to compile a roster of which members would be on what team in what role. From there, teams work together to create a theme and theory for their case, witness calls and start to prep materials. We write all of our  materials based on the list of affidavits (personal statements) and exhibits we receive from the American Mock Trial Association,” Culley said. “We’re not just teammates, but great friends as well.”

Natalie Arthur, a freshman business marketing student, served on this year’s jury, and described their experience at the Spring Trial. “I’ve actually never done anything like it before,” Arthur said. “But I had attended one of the meetings about the mock trial. It was very fun, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought it was a great opportunity to get to know what it’s like in the real world if you ever got called for jury duty, just understanding the law.”

Arthur also explained how she was able to learn about legal terminology and processes during the trial that she didn’t know before. “I picked up many of the terms that the lawyers and judge were using throughout the entire thing,” Arthur said. “Also during the deliberation at the end just hearing people who are actually part of the Mock Trial Club talking about the trial … just hearing the terminology helped me understand more about the law and what was going on.”

Culley also participated in this trial, and it was their first time filling the attorney role. “Throughout the trial, we were silently cheering each other on and saying how proud we are and grateful to be on a team with each other through fist bumps or passing notes,” Culley said.

Hayden Hobbick, a sophomore economics and mathematics student, attended the trial as a spectator, and described how the event made him feel. “[It was] enthralling,” Hobbick said. “As someone who has observed the Mock Trial team’s work throughout the past seasons, it’s amazing to see how much the members have evolved.” 

Hobbick also added that his biggest takeaway from the event was that “Taylor Hopson did not murder Avery Bancroft. Also, how intense cross examinations can be.”

The Mock Trial club is always looking for new members, and according to Culley, they wouldn’t trade the experience the club has given them for the world. “The Mock Trial Club truly has some of the smartest, passionate and most hardworking people I’ve ever had the pleasure to not only work with but be a friend to,” Culley said. “You do not have to be a Law & Justice major to be a part of this club. This is a space to grow your public speaking, critical thinking and overall confidence in yourself and your work. We’re all here to support you unconditionally, anyone and everyone is welcome to join the Mock Trial Club.”