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A mock trial is an act or imitation trial. It is similar to a moot court, but mock trials simulate lower-court trials, while moot court simulates appellate courthearings. Mock trials allow researchers to examine confirmation biases in a realistic setting. Mock trial is the name of an extracurricular program in which students participate in rehearsed trials to learnabout the legal system in a competitive manner. Interscholastic mock trials take place on three levels: high school, college, and law school. AMTA was founded in 1985 by Dean Richard Calkins ofDrake Law School. AMTA is an organization that sponsors intercollegiate mock trial competition.

These competitions allow undergraduate students an opportunity to learn critical thinking and publicspeaking skills. More importantly, students learn courtroom and legal procedures as they participate as both attorneys and witnesses. Students participating in Mock Trial learn how to conduct a trialfrom start to finish. They are trained in how to plan, draft and present opening statements, direct examinations, cross examinations and closing arguments. Also teaches students how to argueobjections intelligently, as well as how to handle various courtroom procedures like entering an exhibit into evidence and impeaching a witness. Aside from the technical aspects of trial advocacy, studentslearn how to think creatively when dealing with matters of trial strategy.

Mock trial teams consist of a minimum of six and a maximum of ten official members. Each team prepares both sides of thecase: prosecution and defense in a criminal trial, plaintiff and defense in a civil action. Each side is composed of three attorneys and three witnesses, all played by members of the team. Therefore,the team's ten members must be organized into two teams of six for the prosecution/plaintiff and defense sides. The world-class competition included 46 Championship teams from 42 states, Guam, the...