A mock trial freshman won an individual award at her first-ever competition at the Notre Dame Golden Dome Invitational Tournament Nov. 1-2. 

Freshman Margaret Ellen Jackson earned a 17-rank witness award in the tournament, while team co-captain and senior Valerie Check took home an 18-rank attorney award. 

“Margaret Ellen had a couple of difficult cross-examinations where she had to defend against impeachments, and she did a really good job and knew her material well,” team co-captain and senior Nathan Emslie said. “Valerie just kept being Valerie and delivered great defendant crosses and openings.”

Check said Jackson’s performance as a witness stood out in the team.  

“Margaret Ellen brings a poised, confident tone when she takes the witness stand, and she is a joyful and encouraging teammate,” Check said. 

The mock trial upperclassman team, Mens Rea-lity Stars, faced off against teams at the Notre Dame Golden Dome Invitational Tournament, finishing with a final ballot score of 3 wins and 5 losses.

The team split 1-1 against Miami University, swept University of Loyola Chicago 2-0, and lost to University of Chicago and Michigan State University 0-2 each. 

While Mens Rea-lity Stars did not place, Emslie said the team had a great performance overall.

“I didn’t think the ballot record quite reflected how well we did,” Emslie said. “I thought there were major strides taken from this weekend as opposed to the weekend before. Memorization, objections, and statements were all sharper and cleaner, and witness performances took a big step up.”

Freshman Ellie Bear said the opposing team from the University of Chicago stood out.

“We faced very competitive teams, and it pushed us to work hard,” Bear said. “University of Chicago was an extremely fun round, and they were very kind as well.”

Emslie commended freshman Sammy Thompson for his witness performances and sophomore Erin McDonald for her closing arguments. 

Jackson, one of the few freshmen on the veteran team alongside Thompson and Bear, said the learning curve seemed daunting at first, especially since she had never participated in a mock trial program before. 

The material soon became more manageable as the team’s co-captains mentored her throughout practices and scrimmages, according to Jackson.

“Valerie and Nathan, our captains, are two of the kindest, most hard-working people,” Jackson said. “They will walk with you through the entire process and be there to assist you in whatever way you need while giving really constructive and amazing feedback since they’ve been doing it for four years.”

Jackson said competing against more difficult teams helped to shed light on some of the team’s areas for improvement.

“Going up against these difficult teams who are solid on memory, presentation, and logic skills is a gift, even if it makes it harder to win, because it tests our strengths and reveals our weaknesses and what we need to work on ahead of the really competitive spring season,” Jackson said. 

Despite the loss, Jackson said the training — which includes scrimmaging against Hillsdale Mock Trial’s two other teams — has come to fruition in many ways in the courtroom.

“It takes a lot of hours and energy to do mock trial, but when you fully commit to it, it’s really rewarding to see all of the work come to life when you’re competing,” Jackson said. “I think trusting in our preparation and training so we don’t hesitate in trial is really what will help us in the coming rounds.”