Entering the 2024-2025 Season

Dear RUMTA Family,

The leaves are changing color, the wind is getting chillier, and another Mock Trial season is upon us! As we go into this season, there is an infectious excitement within the club. Last season RUMTA capped off one of its best seasons in recent times, sending two teams to ORCS who each won 4 ballots. The team is gearing up to build off of last year with the help of some old faces. Keep reading to see how we’re preparing for the invitational season and how you can support our organization this November!

New Coaches

The club is thrilled to have coach Craig Aronow back in the fold. Aronow’s first tenure, which spanned from 2008 to 2015, fielded some of the best teams in the nation and included a 2nd place finish in the 2012 season. There is no doubt that Aronow is ready to replicate that success in his second tenure. Call him the Greg Schiano of Mock Trial. 

Joining him are two of RUMTA’s most decorated alumni. First, former president and A-Team captain, and founder of RUMTA, Alyssa DiSturco (SAS ‘09). We are also welcoming back former A-Team captain, and opening attorney for Rutgers in the National Championship, Rachel Holt (SAS ‘14). 

Joining them is an arsenal of esteemed alumni coming back as coaches. Including: former president and A-Team captain, Esther Kang (SAS ‘16), former president Thomas Twitchell (SAS ‘16), former president and B-Team captain, Nicoletta Eby (SAS ‘18), former secretary Jessica Ma (SAS ‘10), former president and National Championship closing attorney, Dahoud Askar (SAS ‘12), and Jennifer Przybylski (SAS ‘12). 

Alice Ko, A-Team captain, had this to say about the new coaching staff: 

 “I am extremely grateful for the amount of time and effort that our coaches are putting into our program. With so much experience between all of them, I feel more prepared than ever to take on the invitational season and lead this team to Nationals!”

Looking Ahead 

As all three teams prepare for their upcoming invitationals, RUMTA as a whole is preparing for its own invitational, the 8th annual Scarlet Knight Mock Trial Invitational (SKMTI). This year’s SKMTI is scheduled to take place on November 9th and 10th. One of the most crucial parts of any mock trial competition, as you all know, is a pool of capable judges, which is why we need you! If you or somebody you know would be interested in judging one or even both days, reach out to us! We would also appreciate it if you could spread the word about judging. By hosting SKMTI we can give competitors the same exhilarating trials we all enjoy, and we would love to have you join us! You can contact our Tournament Director, Victoria Wei, at scarlet.invitational@gmail.com; and below you can find a form for sign up.

https://forms.gle/BhqJpELh6mRzqDgB6

Best Regards,

RUMTA E-Board

Closing Out the 2023-24 Season...

Dear RUMTA family,

We hope this finds you well! It’s been a while since we last spoke, so there’s a lot to catch you up on. After an invitational season littered with individual and team awards, Rutgers Mock Trial has had the strongest regional performance we’ve seen in a long while. Keep reading to explore how we’ve been doing!

Our A Team performed spectacularly at the Washington, D.C. regional competition, hosted by American University on February 17-18. The eight-person team entered with a mission and executed it to perfection, securing a perfect 8-0 record against teams like Yale, Villanova, and Virginia Tech. They placed second overall in the region and earned a bid to the Washington, D.C. Open Round Championships, where they ended the competitive season with a 4-4 record against some of the most competitive teams in the country.

“I can’t express how proud I am of my team for their performance,” says captain Kaavya Balamurugan. “Working with them has truly been such a privilege. They’ve worked so hard all year and seeing all of them grow as both competitors and people has been one of the most rewarding things about being a captain for me. All of the time and effort they’ve put into this activity has really paid off!”

Newcomer Jonathan Shanahan scored 17 ranks as a prosecution witness and 18 ranks as a defense middle attorney at Regionals. He also scored 18 ranks as a prosecution witness at ORCs! He, along with freshman Olivia Karanxha, who scored 18 ranks as a prosecution attorney, join the ranks of the All-Regional RUMTA alumni. 

We are so proud of A Team and their dedication over the season!

The B Team held their own against all odds at the D.C. regional competition. Despite fierce competition in the likes of American, Villanova, and Scranton, they emerged with a 6-2 record and secured an open bid to the D.C. ORCs.

Captain Alice Ko commented, saying, “I am so incredibly proud of my team and the persistence they displayed. They were so dedicated to improving after every single round, and they really showed everyone who doubted us just how strong we are as a team and an organization.”

Captain Vicky Wei added by saying, “To say I’m proud of my team is putting it lightly. I’m blown away by our team’s growth, hard work, and tireless commitment to getting better every tournament– and it paid off at the perfect time.”

Captain Vicky Wei was awarded an All-Region witness award for her portrayal of a defense witness, which earned 19 ranks. Both she and captain Alice Ko earned 17 ranks as prosecution and defense attorneys, respectively.

At Open Round Championships in D.C., B Team also emerged with a 4-4 record against some of the best teams in the country, including a 2-0 win over Howard University’s A Team! 

We commend B Team for their fighting spirit and wish them all the best!

C Team, led by captain Llewelyn Levett, ended their run at the Haverford, PA regionals with a record of 4-2-1 (4.5-2.5) just last weekend. We are incredibly proud of their performance, which started with bulldozing through two teams on Saturday and hitting some region goliaths on Sunday. The team was able to secure a spot on the open bid list, but ultimately did not advance to ORCs.

“I cannot express how immensely proud I am of my team and how we did at our regional tournament,” says Captain Llewelyn Levett. “Getting an honorable mention at regionals is amazing and just shows what hard work and determination can do. Even though we didn’t make it to the next round, this was a great experience and one that I will personally never forget.”

President John Bailon also commented on the organization’s performance as a whole: “I’m so proud of everyone’s growth this year, culminating in one of RUMTA’s best seasons in recent memory. The future of RUMTA is bright and I'm excited to see what’s in store next year!”

Congratulations to C Team for an amazing performance at regionals! We can’t wait to see what you’ll achieve next year.

It’s been an incredible regional season, and from all of us here at RUMTA, thank you for your continued support of our organization. We truly appreciate all you do to support our teams and competitors, and cannot wait to see you next year! 

Warmest regards,

RUMTA E-Board

RUMTA's Fall Season Draws to a Close

Dear RUMTA Family,

Hello and Happy Holidays! As the (calendar and invitational) year comes to a close, we wanted to take this time to thank you all for your support of our organization, whether it be through volunteering your time, talking to our members, or even just reading this newsletter! We extend a special thanks to any alumni who judged at the 7th annual Scarlet Knight Mock Trial Invitational (SKMTI); we could not have pulled it off without you all. Without any further ado, read on to see what our teams have been up to in November!

Team Da Vinci, pictured with the rest of the SKMTI staff, including Destiny Colmenares, Tournament Director (frontmost right), and Ashhad Siddiqui, Tabulation Director (frontmost center).

This past month, Team DaVinci, led by captain Kaavya Balamurugan, finished their invitational season by competing at the Scarlet Knight Mock Trial invitational. The team faced some truly difficult opponents, with a CS of 20.5, but attorney Felicia Chan walked away with 19 ranks for the prosecution! Here’s what she had to say about her experience with Team DaVinci:

“I learned so much from my competitors and felt an overwhelming amount of support from my team. This competition was a wonderful experience!”

Kaavya also remarked on her team’s incredibly successful season, saying, “I couldn’t be prouder of my team’s performance this season. They all came in with a wide range of experience… they’ve all been put in roles that they were initially not used to or uncomfortable with and each of them have exceeded my expectations in so many ways.”

We wish Team DaVinci luck as they prepare for restack and regionals!

Team Van Gogh with the Seton Hall mascot!

Team Van Gogh, along with Team Picasso, attended this year’s Seton Hall Pirate Invitational, emerging in 5th place with a 5-3 record! Van Gogh faced some of the most difficult teams in the tournament, and was awarded with 2 outstanding awards. Captain Alice Ko, who received an outstanding witness award with 18 ranks for the defense, and Om Shah, who received an outstanding witness award with 17 ranks for the defense. This was the team’s second invitational of the year.

Team Picasso also did spectacularly at the Pirate Invitational, with team members Maulikaa Manikantan and Cat Ellor both walking away with 2 outstanding witness awards! Maulikaa Manikantan was awarded 16 ranks for her portrayal of a prosecution witness, while Cat Ellor was awarded 17 ranks for her portrayal of a defense witness. Picasso held their own with a 4-4 record against some of the most competitive teams in the region!

Team Van Gogh, all smiles at Boston.

Team Van Gogh said goodbye to the invitational season this weekend at Boston College’s second annual Mockathon, with a 5.5 record against some of the most competitive schools in the nation. Van Gogh hit stacked teams from all over the northeast area, including Dickinson College and Wesleyan University. Though they faced steep competition, captains Vicky Wei and Alice Ko noted that this was their team’s strongest performance yet, with the strongest opponents they had ever faced. At the end of the weekend, newcomer Jonathan Shanahan was awarded a 17-rank witness award for his portrayal of a prosecution witness.

Here’s what Captain Vicky Wei had to say about Van Gogh’s invitational season: “I’m insanely proud of the commitment and rapid improvement from Team Van Gogh in just a few short months. Our members' willingness to dive into tough material and work around the clock paid off in their excellent performances across all three invitationals. I can’t wait to see how they continue to excel in the rest of the season.”

Captain Alice Ko added, “The amount of progress our team has made from the beginning of the year has been incredible to watch and inspiring as a captain. I am so grateful to Vicky for her leadership and to my teammates for never accepting failure as an option. They just keep getting better, and I’m confident that they will continue to succeed at regionals and beyond!”

Captains Alice Ko and Vicky Wei, wondering why they're on the same counsel.

Team Picasso represented Rutgers Mock Trial at last weekend’s Temple University Hooters Invitational, and walked away with a first place trophy and undefeated record. Newcomer Katie O’Connor was awarded a 17-rank witness award for her portrayal of a defense witness. Captain Llewelyn Levett commented on his team’s remarkable performance, exclaiming, 

“I cannot express how proud I am of everyone on my team! Going from 3-5 to 4-4 to being undefeated is amazing and just goes to show that everyone’s hard work and dedication paid off. The growth that my team has gone through over the past couple of months makes me extremely proud to be their captain. I can’t wait to see what we can do as an organization in the future, especially with regionals coming up!”

Team Picasso, pictured with Team Captain Llewelyn Levett (fourth from left), and Team DaVinci captain Kaavya Balamurugan (right).

We congratulate Team Picasso on their incredible success, and can’t wait to see how the team’s members do post restack!

It’s been a long fall season, and we can’t wait to see what our organization will look like after our winter tryouts. Wish us luck in the upcoming regionals season, and all the way to Chicago for nationals!

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From all of us here at RUMTA, thank you for your continued support of our organization, and we wish you all the best in 2024. 

AS ALWAYS, RUMTA THANKS ITS COACHES, MEGAN KOSOVICH, ESQ., RYAN FARRELL, ESQ., SANDRA GRAISE, ESQ., AND CHRISTOPHER VERSAK, ESQ., FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO AND SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE RUMTA FAMILY AS A COMPETITOR, COACH, OR SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT RUMOCKTRIAL05@GMAIL.COM.

RUMTA Starts Fall Season with a Bang!

Hello RUMTA family! It’s been a while since we last caught up, so let’s run down the list of our latest accomplishments in the last two months. Starting off with Team Da Vinci, who competed at William and Mary’s Colonial Classic on October 14th and 15th. Team Da Vinci, led by Captain Kaavya Balamurugan, did spectacularly at the first tournament of the season, with newcomer Wasi Ullah coming back home with an outstanding attorney award (17 ranks) and returner Ayush Nimak achieving a perfect 20 ranks as a witness (the defendant, no less!)

Pictured above: Team Davinci, with award winners Wasi Ullah (left) and Ayush Nimak (right).

But the success didn’t stop there for Team DaVinci. Just two weeks later, at the Syracuse Orange Trial Tournament Open (OTTO), the Rutgers team won second place with a 6-2 record, the first team award of the season! Captain Kaavya Balamurugan won an outstanding attorney award with 17 ranks, newcomer Alex Devita scored 15 ranks as an outstanding witness, and Ayush Nimak came home with two awards — 17 ranks as an outstanding witness, and 16 ranks as an outstanding attorney. We are so proud of Team DaVinci’s success at OTTO, and can’t wait to see how they do at SKMTI this upcoming weekend!

Team DaVinci, from left to right: Felicia Chan, Mahati Chitti, Ayush Nimak, Kaavya Balamurugan, Gianella Rosado, Nohman Sohail, Wasi Ullah, Alex Devita, and volunteer driver Ash from Team Picasso!

Pictured above: Team Van Gogh in all of its glory. From left to right: Jonathan Shanahan, Alice Ko, Vicky Wei, Olivia Karanxha, Javier Correoso, John Bailon, Om Shah, and Habiba Sultan.

Team Van Gogh, led by captains Vicky Wei and Alice Ko, concluded their weekend at the University of Pennsylvania’s Quaker Classic by taking fourth place! Van Gogh competed against the University of Pennsylvania, George Washington University, The College of William & Mary, and Dartmouth College, coming away with an astonishing 6-2 record. Returner Habiba Sultan was awarded an Outstanding Attorney award after winning 18 ranks as the team’s prosecution opener, and captains Vicky and Alice both received Outstanding Witness awards for their 17-rank portrayals of defense and prosecution witnesses, respectively.

Pictured above: Captain Vicky Wei (left), Habiba Sultan (middle), and Captain Alice Ko (right), with their Outstanding awards.

The captains commented on their team’s success at their first invitational:

“I couldn't be prouder of Van Gogh's dedication and hard work leading up to our first invitational this season,” said Vicky Wei. “ We're excited to see how we can continue to excel in the competitions ahead”. Alice Ko chimed in, saying, “It's a true testament to our team's unity and effort that we achieved such a fantastic result at Penn. We are so proud to represent RUMTA at invitationals and to support our members in their success!”

We’re wishing Team Van Gogh success as they compete in Seton Hall University’s Pirate Invitational this upcoming weekend!

Team Picasso also competed this weekend, pulling off an impressive finish at Cornell University’s Big Red Invitational Classic. Attorney Maulikaa Manikantan was awarded with an Outstanding Attorney award for her role as the team’s prosecution closer, scoring 18 ranks. The team’s captain, Llewelyn Levett, had this to say about his team’s performance at Cornell:

Cornell was a blast for Team Picasso! There were many learning opportunities but even more opportunities to show off. I'm extremely proud of all my team members for all their amazing effort leading up to and during the invitational. I can't wait to see how much we can improve upon our already amazing performance in the next two invitationals during the fall season!

Outstanding Attorney Maulikaa Manikantan.

We are certainly proud of our competitors for such a successful beginning to their season, and can’t wait to watch them continue to amaze us moving forward! Coming up in the next few weeks are Rutgers University’s very own Scarlet Knight Mock Trial Invitational (SKMTI), and Seton Hall University’s Pirate Invitational, which Teams Van Gogh and Picasso will be attending together.

Thank you for your continued support of our organization.

As always, RUMTA thanks its coaches, Megan Kosovich, Esq., Ryan Farrell, Esq., Sandra Graise, Esq., and Christopher Versak, Esq., for their DEDICATION TO AND SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE RUMTA FAMILY AS A COMPETITOR, COACH, OR SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT RUMOCKTRIAL05@GMAIL.COM.

Rutgers B Competes at William & Mary's Colonial Classic Invitational!

RUMTA’s B-Team kicked off the competitive season with a stellar showing at William and Mary’s Colonial Classic Invitational, from October 22 to 23. The team competed successfully against teams from William and Mary, University of Richmond, George Washington University, and the University of South Carolina. B-Team co-captains Michael Brestin and Kaavya Balamurugan expressed their amazement and pride for their teammates’ performances.

Rutgers B Team, top row from left: Leo Affouf, Nohman Sohail, Cat Ellor, Yash Goyal, Felicia Chan, and Ayush Nimak
Bottom row, from left: B-Team Captains Kaavya Balamurugan and Michael Brestin

“I am so beyond proud of how well our team performed this competition. Everyone gave it their all and exceeded all expectations. I consider myself lucky to work with such a driven and high spirited team, and I think our results this weekend speak volumes about the season to come.” Michael remarked. Kaavya shared a similar sentiment, explaining, “Honestly, I was beyond amazed and impressed by everyone’s performances at William & Mary. Everyone put in so much time, energy, and effort into learning the material and getting ready for the competition and it really paid off. They completely exceeded my expectations and I am so proud of how well they all work together and how enthusiastic they are about Mock Trial.” 

Leo Affouf, who played the self-proclaimed “Master of the Skies” D.B. Gelfand for the defense and Jaime Savchenko for the plaintiff

RUMTA especially commends freshman Leo Affouf, who competed at the collegiate level for the first time, for his 17-rank Outstanding Witness Award! 

“Watching Leo win RUMTA’s first award of the season at his first-ever tournament was also incredible, and I'm so proud of him and the rest of the team for all of their dedication and talent. Getting to compete alongside all of them and witnessing firsthand how much they have improved in such a short amount of time has truly been so special to me, and I can’t wait to see how far they continue to go from here.” Kaavya said.

RUMTA cannot wait to see what this incredible team does next as they head off to compete at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annual Quaker Classic this weekend, alongside our talented C-Team competitors.

RUMTA THANKS COACHES BREN SIMONSON, ESQ., CHRIS RUZICH, ESQ., RYAN FARRELL, ESQ., AND MEGAN KOSOVICH, ESQ. FOR THEIR CONTINUOUS DEDICATION TO AND SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE RUMTA FAMILY AS A COMPETITOR, COACH, OR SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT RUMOCKTRIAL05@GMAIL.COM.

Rutgers Advances to the Open Round Championship Series!

After a weekend of hard-work, virtual objections, and show-stopping performances, Rutgers Mock Trial has secured a bid to the Open Round Championship Series (ORCS)! Rutgers celebrates a twelve year tradition of advancing at least one team to ORCS, which marks the second round of the American Mock Trial Association’s annual national tournament structure. 

Rutgers’ A-Team and C-Team competed in their virtual Regional Tournaments from February 14th-15th. Rutgers A had an impressive showing, facing teams from Hamline University, Furman University, Dartmouth University, and Texas A&M University. The all-female team secured their bid to ORCS with a record of 6 wins, 2 losses, and a competitive score (CS) of 18.5. A-Team Captain, Zoe Chang, remarked “I’m so proud of my team and all the work they have put into this year, every person brought their A-game and we hope to maintain that same momentum going into ORCS.”

Rutgers A-Team, from top left to bottom right: Aabha Joshi, Zoe Chang, Alice Militaru, Laura Vorbach, Veronica Bido, Sunzida Ahmed, Yosan Siele.

RUMTA’s C-Team finished off the season strong, competing in rounds with University of Pennsylvania, University of Houston, Duquesne University, and Duke University.

C-Team Captain, Michael Brestin, was overjoyed with his team’s performance this season, noting “Proud is an understatement of how I feel. The team did so well this weekend, both individually and together. We competed against teams that really kept us on our toes at regionals, and everyone did amazing at giving it their best. I really look forward to seeing our team continue to grow and advance in the coming seasons.” RUMTA commends C-Team for a stellar competitive performance and extends a special congratulations to Kathryn Lee, one of our first-year competitors, who received an exceptional 19-Rank All-Region Attorney Award! 

Rutgers B-Team, from top left to bottom right: Sarah Samdani, Michael Brestin, Coach Caroline Bielak, Kaavya Balamurugan, Michael Abramov, Kiran Kumaranayakam, Adam Ali, Kathryn Lee, Emma Evans.

With last year’s mock trial season getting cut short due to COVID-19 concerns, RUMTA hopes to advance its A-Team to the National Championship Tournament for the second year in a row. With the highly-anticipated case changes approaching and an increasing level of competition to look forward to, every competitor is excited and prepared to vie for the national title.

RUMTA THANKS HEAD COACH MICHAEL ROBERTS, ESQ. AND COACHES BREN SIMONSON, ESQ., CAROLINE BIELAK, ESQ., HUMAYOON HASHMI, and EMMETT LAURIE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE RUMTA FAMILY AS A COMPETITOR, COACH, OR SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT RUMOCKTRIAL05@GMAIL.COM.

B Team Regionals

RUMTA’s B-Team finished off the season strong with an impressive showing at their Regional Tournament. B-Team faced teams from University of Texas, Elmhurst University, University of Oregon, and College of Florida. B-Team Captain, Neha Aluwalia expressed her pride for the team, noting “I couldn’t be prouder of my team this season! I have seen so much growth in each member competitively, and we had some of our best rounds yet at Regionals. We got to know each other as competitors, but also as friends this season, and we can’t wait to see what’s ahead!” RUMTA echoes the same praise for B-Team’s performance this weekend and extends a special congratulations to Neha Aluwalia for her 17-Rank All-Region Attorney Award and to Nandita Vasantha for her 18-Rank All-Region Witness Award! RUMTA congratulates every competitor on B Team for a stellar season filled with impressive rounds and remarkable growth!

B-Team (from top left to bottom right): Nandita Vasantha, Neha Aluwalia, Destiny Colmenares, Winnie Zhu, Kimberly Mohabeer, Jacqueline Giz, Coach Bren Simonson, Arishita Gupta, Andreas Huey

Not Pictured: Samarth Thakker

From February 13-14th, RUMTA’s A and C Team will compete at their Regionals along with teams from across the nation. Stay tuned to hear more about the competition that lays ahead!

RUMTA THANKS HEAD COACH MICHAEL ROBERTS, ESQ. AND COACHES BREN SIMONSON, ESQ., CAROLINE BIELAK, ESQ., HUMAYOON HASHMI, AND EMMETT LAURIE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE RUMTA FAMILY AS A COMPETITOR, COACH, OR SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT RUMOCKTRIAL05@GMAIL.COM.

RUMTA Gains Momentum Before Regionals

As RUMTA gears up for Regional Tournaments—which marks the beginning of the American Mock Trial Association’s (AMTA) National Tournament structure—each team has worked diligently to refine their skills, both in practices and competitions. 

A and B Team officially kicked off the new year by competing at University of Michigan’s Wolverine Classic from January 16-17. At the Michigan Invitational, A-Team competed against teams from Xavier University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Case Western University, and The Ohio State University. Meanwhile, B Team faced teams from Illinois University, University of  Arizona, and Cincinnati University. Both A and B Team Captains, Zoe Chang and Neha Aluwalia, agreed that the competition was a valuable precursor to Regionals, which will be taking place in mid February for both teams. 

Meanwhile, from January 23-24, RUMTA’s C-Team took on University of Florida’s Swamp Invitational where they faced teams from Florida State University, Georgia State University, Florida International University, and Duke University. C-Team Captain Michael Brestin expressed his pride for his teammates, noting how each competitor has made remarkable improvements since the beginning of the season. 

The string of competitive weekends proved to be a success for Rutgers Mock Trial as three competitors walked away with individual awards. A-Team Captain Zoe Chang received a 19-rank Attorney Award at University of Michigan’s Invitational while C-Team competitors, Sarah Samdani and Kaavya Balamurugan, both received 16-rank Witness Awards at University of Florida’s Invitational. RUMTA congratulates our award-winning competitors and extends an especial praise to Sarah and Kaavya for winning their first awards as first-year competitors! 

With the first ever virtual Regionals quickly approaching, each team feels well-equipped and excited to tackle the upcoming competitive season! 

RUMTA THANKS HEAD COACH MICHAEL ROBERTS, ESQ. AND COACHES BREN SIMONSON, ESQ., CAROLINE BIELAK, ESQ., HUMAYOON HASHMI, AND EMMETT LAURIE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE RUMTA FAMILY AS A COMPETITOR, COACH, OR SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT RUMOCKTRIAL05@GMAIL.COM.

Fourth Annual Scarlet Knight Mock Trial Invitational is a Success!

The Rutgers University Mock Trial Association hosted its 4th annual Scarlet Knight Mock Trial Invitational (SKMTI) this past weekend from November 21st - November 22nd! The tournament hosted 28 teams from 18 different universities, all of whom brought their A-game with impressive records across the board. RUMTA’s very own C-Team competed in the two-day tournament, facing teams from Fordham Rose Hill, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Dickinson College, and University of Maryland. After competing, C Team Captain, Mike Brestin, noted “we put our all into bettering our team these past few months and it really showed this weekend. Our success at SKMTI has definitely encouraged us to  push ourselves even more as we get farther into the season.”

Four members of C-Team during competition, from top left to bottom right: Alexis Simmons, Nandita Vasantha, Sarah Samdani, and Michael Brestin.

This year’s SKMTI was the first ever virtual tournament run by RUMTA, however, with the guidance of Tournament Director, Zoe Chang, and Assistant Tournament Director, Neha Aluwalia, the weekend was able to run smoothly with few technical hiccups. Zoe made sure to express her gratitude after the successful event, noting “we would like to extend a big thank you to all the teams who competed, all the judges who volunteered their time, and all the competitors and coaches for RUMTA who made this virtual SKMTI possible. We cannot wait to see everyone (hopefully in person) next year!” Neha echoed the same thanks, remarking “we are incredibly proud of SKMTI! The tournament would not be possible without the time and dedication of our judges, RUMTA members, and of course, our mastermind Tournament Director, Zoe Chang.”

Left to Right: Tab Room Director, Aabha Joshi and Tournament Director, Zoe Chang.

RUMTA extends a special thanks to Zoe and Neha for their hard work in running the tournament and to RUMTA member Aabha Joshi for her technical expertise in tab. As many teams in the American Mock Trial Association know, running a virtual tournament takes a village so to speak, and this weekend would not have been the success that it was without the unwavering support from our coaches, alumni, and members. RUMTA especially congratulates George Washington University for taking first place at SKMTI with a record of 7 wins and a CS (Competitive Score) of 20.

As the teams in RUMTA “zoom” through tournaments, each competitor has worked tirelessly to improve upon their performances and make the organization stronger as a whole. As we gear up for the Spring season, competitors are focused on honing in on their skills and taking RUMTA to a level that we have never seen before, stay tuned!

RUMTA THANKS HEAD COACH MICHAEL ROBERTS, ESQ. AND COACHES BREN SIMONSON, ESQ., CAROLINE BIELAK, ESQ., HUMAYOON HASHMI, EMMETT LAURIE, AND RYAN RUFFIN.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE RUMTA FAMILY AS A COMPETITOR, COACH, OR SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT RUMOCKTRIAL05@GMAIL.COM.

Rutgers A and B Compete at Yale University's Invitational

This past weekend, RUMTA’s A and B Teams put their skills to the test at Yale University’s 25th Annual Mock Trial Invitational. Rutgers A faced teams from Cornell University, University of Michigan, Georgetown University, and University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Meanwhile, Rutgers B faced teams from Princeton University, University of Portland, Fordham University Lincoln Center, and University of Florida. RUMTA applauds both teams for their hard work and especially congratulates A-Team competitor and President, Veronica Bido, for her 17 rank witness award! 

After the long weekend, Veronica made sure to express her happiness with the teams’ performance, noting, “I am so proud of the progress each team has made—that means more to me than any individual award I can earn.”

As the fall semester unfolds, RUMTA competitors are getting progressively more comfortable with this year’s case, Joey Petrillo, as Administrator of the Estate of Genesis Petrillo v. Harper Martini and Peony Estates. Each tournament brings with it valuable lessons and opportunities for each competitor to grow, both as individuals, and as a team. As the organization gears up for our own Scarlet Knight Mock Trial Invitational this coming weekend (11/21/20 - 11/22/20), our teams couldn’t be more thankful to compete alongside and learn from some of the best Mock Trial programs across the country! 

RUMTA THANKS HEAD COACH MICHAEL ROBERTS, ESQ. AND COACHES BREN SIMONSON, ESQ., CAROLINE BIELAK, ESQ., HUMAYOON HASHMI, EMMETT LAURIE, AND RYAN RUFFIN.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE RUMTA FAMILY AS A COMPETITOR, COACH, OR SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT RUMOCKTRIAL05@GMAIL.COM.

Taking on the “Elephant in the Zoom”

A Team Captain, Zoe Chang, competing via Zoom.

This past weekend, RUMTA’s A and B Teams competed at Tufts University’s Mumbo Jumbo Invitational and University of Georgia’s Classic City Invitational, respectively. Both teams made Rutgers proud, with exceptional performances against a competitive lineup. At Tufts, Rutgers A faced teams from Northwestern University, New York University, Penn State University, and Rhodes College. A Team left the tournament with an honorable mention and a CS (competitive score) of 21.5, the highest in the whole competition! A Team competitor, Sunzida Ahmed, continued the success with her 20 rank Attorney Award! After the tournament, Captain Zoe Chang made sure to express her joy, noting “I am immensely proud of my team for our success in spite of a less than ideal online format. We are exactly where we need to be in preparation for the spring season.”

Meanwhile, B Team held strong at UGA’s Classic City Invitational, facing teams from Emory University, Vanderbilt University, George Washington University, and Northwood University. B Team Captain, Neha Aluwalia, remarked “I’m so proud of my team and the improvements we were able to make in the one week between our competitions! I love seeing those ‘lightbulb’ moments and watching how each competitor grows into their own mock trial style”

As RUMTA gears up for the spring season, each team is working tirelessly to perfect their performances and with several more invitationals lined up, we can’t wait to see what’s next!

RUMTA THANKS HEAD COACH MICHAEL ROBERTS, ESQ. AND COACHES BREN SIMONSON, ESQ., CAROLINE BIELAK, ESQ., HUMAYOON HASHMI, EMMETT LAURIE, AND RYAN RUFFIN.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE RUMTA FAMILY AS A COMPETITOR, COACH, OR SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT RUMOCKTRIAL05@GMAIL.COM.

Mocking On!

October proved to be a month of mock-filled festivities, with competitions almost every weekend this month! From October 24-25th, RUMTA’s B and C Teams gave stellar performances at their respective tournaments. B Team competed at University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Charm City Classic Invitational, facing teams from Penn State University, Wheaton College, Haverford College, and Patrick Henry College. B Team Captain, Neha Aluwalia, highlighted their success, noting “I couldn’t be prouder of my team at our first competition! Competing in a virtual environment is a new experience, and each member rose to the occasion. I am especially proud of our four new members.” RUMTA applauds B Team on their hard work and especially congratulates Kimberly Mohabeer on her 23/30 rank Outstanding Attorney award!

Rutgers B-Team, from top left to bottom right: Ajoke Adetula, Andreas Huey, Arishita Gupta, B-Team Coach Bren Simonson, Destiny Colmenares, Jackie Giz, Kimberly Mohabeer, Neha Aluwalia, Samarth Thakker, Winnie Zhu.

Meanwhile, C Team echoed the success with their performance at William and Mary’s Colonial Classic Invitational. C Team went up against teams from Princeton University, Michigan State University, and William and Mary. C team Captain Michael Brestin left the tournament satisfied with his team’s improvement, commenting  “Our team is learning a lot very quickly and it’s exciting to see us continuously improve. I’m really looking forward to seeing how far we can go.”

C Team’s Kathryn Lee, with her “co-counsel” during a virtual mock trial tournament.

With back to back competitions and finally getting acclimated to “zoom mock,” RUMTA couldn’t be prouder of all of our competitors (especially our new members) who’ve worked tirelessly to improve and compete at their best!

RUMTA THANKS HEAD COACH MICHAEL ROBERTS, ESQ. AND coaches BREN SIMONSON, ESQ., CAROLINE BIELAK, ESQ., HUMAYOON HASHMI, EMMETT LAURIE, AND RYAN RUFFIN.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE RUMTA FAMILY AS A COMPETITOR, COACH, OR SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT RUMOCKTRIAL05@GMAIL.COM.

Successfully Starting the Season through a Screen!

This past weekend, RUMTA’s  A and C Teams kicked off the fall season with a strong showing at George Washington University’s Habeas Hippopotamus Invitational. Rutgers A took 4th place in their division, facing teams from University of Massachusetts, Emory University, Hillsdale College, and Hamilton College. In addition to the team placing, A Team’s Aabha Joshi and Alice Militaru left their first tournament of the season with a 17-rank attorney award and an 18-rank witness award, respectively. 

Meanwhile, Rutgers C faced teams from Dickinson University, Colorado College, University of Alabama, and University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The team was especially proud of its 6 new members who competed at their first tournament with poise, proving just how resilient RUMTA truly is! 

Both A-Team Captain, Zoe Chang, and C-Team Captain, Michael Brestin, left the tournament feeling proud of their teams and motivated to improve for future competitions. RUMTA President, Veronica Bido, noted “there are not enough words to express my pride for both of the teams that competed this weekend. Our C-Team gave an outstanding performance, especially since many of our members were participating in their first collegiate mock trial competition. Our A-Team, composed of all women, did an amazing job, taking 4th place in our division. As President, I cannot wait for what's to come in the season ahead!” 

This year, competitors will argue Joey Petrillo, as Administrator of the Estate of Genesis Petrillo v. Harper Martini and Peony Estates, a civil case about an alleged poisoning where teams can choose to pursue a charge of either battery or negligence per se.

Like most teams in the American Mock Trial Association, RUMTA had its apprehensions about competing in a virtual world. However, after a weekend of learning, practicing, and performing at our best, our teams are more than ready to tackle the world of “zoom mock” and any challenges that may come with it. 

RUMTA THANKS HEAD COACH MICHAEL ROBERTS, ESQ. AND ASSISTANT COACHES BREN SIMONSON, ESQ., CAROLINE BIELAK, ESQ., HUMAYOON HASHMI, EMMETT LAURIE, and RYAN RUFFIN.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE RUMTA FAMILY AS A COMPETITOR, COACH, OR SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT RUMOCKTRIAL05@GMAIL.COM.

New Case, New Members, New Mock!

In what seemed like a summer of endless unpredictability, the Rutgers Mock Trial Association (RUMTA) held their ground in light of the novel circumstances.

Despite the pandemic and ensuing quarantine, this past August, RUMTA was able to successfully continue its tradition of Summer Practices. In years past, members would try a past case written by the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) to maintain and sharpen their skills for the upcoming competitive season. This summer, our returners took on Sean Jeffries v Polk County Police, an AMTA Civil Case from 2007. Summer practices and scrimmages were held via the video conferencing platform, Zoom. Fortunately, after much trial and error, as well as two successful internal scrimmages, RUMTA members feel more than ready to take on the new year in the virtual sphere!

The 2020-21 Executive Board, from top left to bottom right: Yosan Siele, Laura Vorbach, Veronica Bido, Zoe Chang, Kimberly Mohabeer, Sunzida Ahmed.

For the upcoming season, AMTA has released the civil case, Joey Petrillo, as Administrator of the Estate of Genesis Petrillo v. Harper Martini and Peony Estates. The case revolves around an alleged poisoning where teams can choose to pursue either battery or negligence per se. Most of the competitive season will be held remotely, the specific details of which have yet to be released.   

While the new year holds some uncertainty by virtue of its platform, RUMTA feels confident going into the season, especially with the help of some new additions. Joining our Returning Coaches (Micael Roberts, Esq., Bren Simonson, Esq., and Caroline Bielak, Esq.) are Assistant Coaches: Humayoon Hashmi, Emmett Laurie, and Ryan Ruffin—all recent alumni of Rutgers Mock Trial. Additionally, the team will be receiving guidance from experienced trial attorney, Alan Y. Medvin, who will be serving as Senior Attorney Advisor. 

While returning members are diligently preparing for the upcoming season, RUMTA is still in the midst of recruiting new members! The last information session for potential new members to attend is Thursday, September 17th at 7pm/EST (the zoom link for this session can be found here). 

As we near our first invitational, we’re at the edge of our seats (or rather, our screens) in anticipation for the trials, objections, and endless fun that lays ahead. After advancing to the National Championship this past spring, the team feels invigorated to keep up the momentum in this new world of virtual mock trial. With the preparation and guidance, we’re ready to tackle the year ahead!

RUMTA THANKS HEAD COACH MICHAEL ROBERTS, ESQ. AND ASSISTANT COACHES BREN SIMONSON, ESQ., CAROLINE BIELAK, ESQ., HUMAYOON HASHMI, EMMETT LAURIE, RYAN RUFFIN, AND ATTORNEY ADVISOR, ALAN MEDVIN.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE RUMTA FAMILY AS A COMPETITOR, COACH, OR SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT RUMOCKTRIAL05@GMAIL.COM.

RUTGERS ADVANCES TO NATIONALS

For the fourth time in a competitive history of 15 years, Rutgers University Mock Trial has advanced to the National Championship Tournament after taking third place at the Lancaster ORCS in Pennsylvania. With a record of 6-1-1 and a competitive score (CS) of 17, Rutgers A-Team will be among the top 48 teams in the nation competing in the National Championship in Chicago, Illinois.

Rutgers A went head to head with a competitive lineup, facing teams from Hamilton College, La Salle University, Tufts University, and Georgetown University. A-Team Captain, Zoe Chang, noted “I could not be more proud of everyone on my team. The fact that we have fun while competing at our best makes everything worth it.” The team’s success continued with Zoe receiving an 18-rank All-National Attorney Award!

Rutgers A-Team, from left to right: Aabha Joshi, Lucy Huang, Zoe Chang, Sunzida Ahmed, Emmett Laurie, Shivangi Patel, Humayoon Hashmi, A-Team Coach Michael Roberts, Esq.

RUMTA’s B-Team also had a strong showing in Lancaster, facing rounds with Wesleyan University, Tufts University, University of Maryland Baltimore County, and SUNY Geneseo. B-team Captain, Ryan Ruffin, made sure to highlight their success: “I am so proud of each and every member of B Team, for not only making it to ORCS, but putting on their best performances and competing at their best against some of the most competitive teams in the country. I could not have asked for a better group of people to enjoy and endure my last competition with. It’s been a great three years RUMTA, thank you.” RUMTA congratulates Ryan for an exceptional competitive history, filled with wins, laughs, and unforgettable memories. B-Team made sure to show their strengths at their last competition of the season with both Ryan Ruffin and Veronica Bido receiving 18-rank All National Attorney Awards!

Rutgers B-Team, from left to right: B-Team Coach Bren Simonson, Esq., Laura Vorbach, Yosan Siele, Ryan Ruffin, Veronica Bido, Samarth Thakkar, Nandita Vasantha, B-Team Coach Christine Botvinnik

RUMTA President, Aabha Joshi, expressed her praise for the team: “I’m absolutely thrilled with the achievements of RUMTA this year. Our success is a culmination of weeks of hard work, persistence, and a commitment to excellence. Our eyes are set on using this momentum to propel us forward, not only in the National Championship but in years to come!”

All images by Chiaho Chang

In considering the context, The American Mock Trial Association boasts 763 competitive collegiate teams, replete with exceptionally talented and dedicated students. Only 48 of those teams advance to the national level of competition and Rutgers has worked tirelessly to secure a spot among them. Every competitor on the team has shown their ability to persevere and adapt to the progressively challenging levels of competition and, considering the unprecedented growth, it’s safe to say we’re not stopping anytime soon. 

RUMTA THANKS HEAD COACH MICHAEL ROBERTS, ESQ. AND ASSISTANT COACHES BREN SIMONSON, ESQ., CAROLINE BIELAK, ESQ., & CHRISTINE BOTVINNIK.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JOINING THE RUMTA FAMILY AS A COMPETITOR, COACH, OR SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT RUMOCKTRIAL05@GMAIL.COM.

RUMTA Advances TWO Teams to ORCS

After months of hard-work, dedication, and modifying case theories, Rutgers Mock Trial has secured two bids to the Open Round Championship Series (ORCS)! Rutgers A-team and C-team competed at American University’s Regional Tournament in Washington, D.C. from February 14th to February 15th and Rutgers B-team competed at Stevenson University’s Regional Tournament in Owing Mills, MD from February 21st to February 22nd. ORCS is the semi-final level of competition in collegiate mock trial and both Rutgers A and B are advancing to the ORCS in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

A historic weekend came to an end as Rutgers A took first place at their Regionals with a record of 8 wins and 0 losses! They faced rounds with Shippensburg University, Fordham University-Rose Hill, Seton Hall University, and Franklin & Marshall College. A-Team Captain, Zoe Chang, remarked “every person on the team brought their A game and we hope to maintain the same momentum at ORCS.” Keeping in line with their victory streak, A-Team’s Zoe Chang, Aabha Joshi, and Humayoon Hashmi all walked away with awards. Zoe Chang solidified her role as an up-and-coming double threat, having received a stellar 19-rank attorney award and a 19-rank witness award. RUMTA President, Aabha Joshi kept up the success with her 17-rank attorney award. And last—but most definitely not least— A-Team senior, Humayoon Hashmi, left his mark at his last Regionals with a 19-rank attorney award and a 16-rank witness award. 

C-Team also made a lasting impression with an impressive 4.5 wins. They faced a competitive lineup, having rounds with Lehigh University, American University, Haverford College, and SUNY, Binghamton University. C-Team junior, Ajoke Adetula, won a 16-rank attorney award while Winnie Zhu, a freshman, received a 17-rank attorney award. C-Team, composed primarily of new members, established that they are a force to be reckoned with. That sentiment was especially echoed by C-Team Captain, Kimberly Mohabeer, as she noted “our whole team has shown unbelievable growth throughout this season. We had a lot of last minute changes and through a ton of teamwork, every member was able to adapt quickly and executed their parts flawlessly.”  RUMTA commends C-Team for its phenomenal performance and even more phenomenal season!

Images by Chiaho Chang

Meanwhile, B-team made sure to uphold Rutgers’ successful track record with 5.5 wins in Maryland. They faced University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Wesleyan University, and both Temple University’s A & B Team. “This year, Regionals was one of the best competitions I’ve been to as far as competition, organization, and success. Seeing each and every member of B-Team bring their best competitive performance is what made me the most proud,” said B-Team Captain, Ryan Ruffin. B-Team gave their absolute best and was no stranger to awards as the team’s unstoppable Veronica Bido took home a 19-rank attorney award, the only competitor to do so at her Regionals.

Left to right: B-Team Captain Ryan Ruffin, Margarita Weissman, B-Team Coach Bren Simonson, Yosan Siele, Veronica Bido, Nandita Vasantha, Samarth Thakker

If anything is to be taken from RUMTA’s overall performance at Regionals, it’s that the team is strong and only getting stronger!

RUMTA thanks Head Coach Michael Roberts, ESQ. and Assistant Coaches Bren Simonson, Esq. , Caroline Bielak, Esq. & Christine Botvinnik

For more information on joining the RUMTA family as a competitor, coach, or sponsor, please contact rumocktrial05@gmail.com.

Successful Weekend at CUBAIT

The Rutgers University Mock Trial Association (RUMTA) A team took 4th place at this past weekend’s Columbia University Big Apple Invitational XVIIl on January 18-19.  This was their last competition of the 2019-2020 season before getting ready and prepared for regionals. A-Team Captain, Zoe Chang received 18 ranks as an outstanding attorney. Fellow A-Team member Sunzida Ahmed received 17 ranks as an outstanding witness. 

From left to right: Sunzida Ahmed, Emmett Laurie, Aabha Joshi, Zoe Chang, Lucy Huang, Shivangi Patel, Alice Militaru, Humayoon Hashmi

RUMTA’s A team had a record of 6-2 at CUBAIT this past weekend.They went up  against competitive schools including Fordham Rose Hill, South Carolina, Indiana University, and Yale. A-Team Captain Zoe Chang, said, “Our team has demonstrated that we can adapt and succeed despite unexpected obstacles. We are in a good place going into Regionals”. Head Coach Michael Roberts, Esq. said, “I’m very proud of Rutgers’ A-Team’s performance this past weekend. We are working hard to prepare for Regionals”.

In the competition RUMTA argued State of Midlands v. Jordan Ryder, a criminal case pursuing an involuntary manslaughter or aggravated murder charge, involving a parent accused of the death of their daughter. All three of RUMTA’s teams will continue to prep for the national intercollegiate competition taking place in February 2020. In 2012, Rutgers A-Team finished number two in the nation out of 650 teams and in 2018 Rutgers A-Team finished fifteenth in the nation out of 650 teams. The goal this year is to go to the National Championship Tournament and capture the top spot.

RUMTA thanks Head Coach Michael Roberts of Roberts & Teeter, and Assistant Coaches Bren Simonson, Esq. and Caroline Bielak, Esq. RUMTA is sponsored by Middlesex County Bar Foundation and the Rutgers Alumni Association.

RUMTA's B Team Wins 2nd in Ithaca

On December 7th and 8th, the Rutgers University Mock Trial Association (“RUMTA”) competed at Ithaca College’s 6th Annual Bomber Blitz Tournament located in Ithaca, NY. RUMTA’s B-Team, won 2nd place at the tournament. The B-Team had a record of 6 wins and 2 losses. They competed against Washington and Jefferson College, Ithaca College, and Geneseo State College. Captain Ryan Ruffin won an Outstanding Attorney award with 18 ranks.

From right to left: Nandita Vasantha, Veronica Bido, Samarth Thakker, Margarita Weissman, Ryan Ruffin, Hasin Tasneem, Yosan Siele, Sami Marshak

Alongside RUMTA’s B-Team competing was also RUMTA’s C-Team who received an honorable mention with 5 wins and 3 losses. They competed against Washington and Jefferson College, University of Rochester, Geneseo State College, and Elmira College. First year competitor Laura Vorbach won an Outstanding Attorney award with 19 ranks. Captain Michael Luckhowec also won an Outstanding Attorney award with 18 ranks. In addition, competitor Ajoke Adetula won an Outstanding Witness award with 19 ranks.

From left to right: Alexis Simmons, Winnie Zhu, Neha Aluwalia, Laura Vorbach, Michael Brestin, Christine Tran, Michael Luckhowec, Kimberly Mohabeer, Ajoke Adetula, Emma Evans

“I think B Team really learned how to hold our own against teams that work differently than us” commented B-Team Captain Ryan Ruffin. C-Team Captain Neha Aluwalia states “I am so proud of our team for the enormous growth I have seen over the past three months. Every member, especially our new members, has grown so much and our performance this weekend reflected that. I am beyond grateful to have such an amazing team to work with!”

In each of the two competitions, RUMTA’s teams argued State of Midlands v. Jordan Ryder, a criminal case pursuing an involuntary manslaughter or aggravated murder charge, involving a parent accused of the death of their daughter. All three of RUMTA’s teams will continue to prep during the winter for the national intercollegiate competition in February 2020. In 2012, Rutgers A-Team finished number two in the nation out of 650 teams and in 2018 Rutgers A-Team finished fifteenth in the nation out of 650 teams. The goal this year is to go to the National Championship Tournament and capture the top spot.

RUMTA thanks Head Coach Michael Roberts of Roberts & Teeter, and Assistant Coaches Bren Simonson, Esq. and Caroline Bielak, Esq. RUMTA is sponsored by Middlesex County Bar Foundation and the Rutgers Alumni Association.

Third Annual Scarlet Knight Invitational Tournament a Great Success!

This season the Rutgers University Mock Trial Association hosted the third annual Scarlet Knight Mock Trial Invitational Tournament, continuing to build on the incredible example set in the past two years. The invitational was a great success, with 26 teams from 17 universities, and over 50 volunteer attorneys, judges, and alumni in attendance.

The tournament was hosted on November 16th and 17th on the College Avenue campus in New Brunswick. Competitors participated in rounds in Frelinghuysen and Hardenbergh Hall, with opening and closing ceremonies in Scott Hall in the Voorhees Mall. Not only did RUMTA host the tournament, but our very own C-Team competed in rounds against Quinnipiac University, Hamilton College, Penn State University, and Dickinson College . They finished with a record of 4-4. Congratulations to C-Team; the tournament winner, University of Maryland - College Park A, who won with a record of 7-1; and everyone who competed this weekend!

From left to right: Michael Luckhowec, Christine Tran, Kimberly Mohabeer, Emma Evans, Ajoke Adetula, Winnie Zhu, Alexis Simmons, Laura Vorbach, Michael Brestin

Essential to SKMTI’s success was the support from our coaches, alumni, advisers, and sponsor, Rutgers Law. The tournament would not have been possible without the months of hard work and dedication from everyone involved. 

RUMTA would like to thank our amazing Tournament Director Zoe Chang, Assistant Tournament Director Neha Aluwalia, head coach Michael Roberts, and the Tab Room Director Aabha Joshi for their hard work behind the scenes in making sure everything was running smoothly. We would also like to thank the RUMTA E-board and all of our members for their efforts during the weekend and for representing RUMTA and Rutgers with such poise. Of course, we also thank all of our alumni who returned to judge and assist, Roberts & Teeter, RAM Law, the Rutgers Alumni Association, and the Middlesex County Bar Foundation. We would also like to give a big thank you to Rutgers Law for sponsoring the tournament this year. Their support was crucial to SKMTI’s success for the third year running, and we look forward to working with you for future invitationals. 

Looking forward, RUMTA is still working hard for the second half of the fall invitational season. On December 7th-8th, both B and C-Team will be competing at Ithaca College’s Bomber Blitz Mock Trial Invitational.

For more information on joining the RUMTA family as a competitor, coach, or sponsor, please contact rumocktrial05@gmail.com. If you are interested in helping out with our tournament next year, please contact scarlet.invitational@gmail.com.

A-Team Wins 3rd Place at Tufts

From left to right: Lucy Huang, Sunzida Ahmed, Alice Militaru, Emmett Laurie, Zoe Chang, Humayoon Hashmi, Aabha Joshi, Shivangi Patel

On November 2nd and 3rd, the Rutgers University Mock Trial Association (“RUMTA”) competed at the Tufts University’s Mumbo Jumbo Tournament located in Medford, Massachusetts. RUMTA’s A-Team, won 3rd place out of a field of 20 competitive teams including Yale University, New York University, and Harvard University. The A-Team had a record of 6 wins and 2 losses competing against Yale University, Wesleyan University, Penn State University, and Brown University. Captain Zoe Chang and competitor Sunzida Ahmed, won Outstanding Attorney awards with 18 ranks and 17 ranks respectively.

This past weekend, on November 9th and 10th, RUMTA’s B Team competed at Haverford College’s Black Squirrel Invitational in Philadelphia, competing against teams from New York University, Penn State University, Haverford College, and Tufts University. At Haverford, senior and B-Team Captain Ryan Ruffin earned 18 ranks to win an Outstanding Attorney award on prosecution. B-Team’s final record was 2 wins and 6 losses.

“We’ve improved significantly even in a short span of 3-weeks between our first and second tournament” commented A-Team’s Chang. “Our practice and hard work showed during this tournament” B-Team’s Ruffin, said, “I am so proud of my team, we had some of our new members being an attorney for the first time and they killed it!”.

In each of the two competitions, RUMTA’s teams argued State of Midlands v. Jordan Ryder, a criminal case pursuing an involuntary manslaughter or aggravated murder charge, involving a parent accused of the death of their daughter. All three of RUMTA’s teams will continue to compete throughout the fall semester at invitationals in preparation for the first rounds of the national intercollegiate competition in February 2020. In 2012, Rutgers A-Team finished number two in the nation out of 650 teams and in 2018 Rutgers A-Team finished fifteenth in the nation out of 650 teams. The goal this year is to go to the National Championship Tournament and capture the top spot.

RUMTA thanks Head Coach Michael Roberts of Roberts & Teeter, and Assistant Coaches Bren Simonson, Esq. and Caroline Bielak, Esq. RUMTA is sponsored by Middlesex County Bar Foundation and the Rutgers Alumni Association.