Mock Trial hosts annual Mumbo Jumbo tournament

Tufts Mock Trial (TMT) hosted its annual Mumbo Jumbo Invitational Tournament, a two-day on-campus event that hosts mock trial teams from all over the country, from Nov. 15 to Nov. 16. This year, the tournament consisted of 22 teams, including Harvard University, the University of New Mexico and Macalester College, according to TMT Co-President Anna Lyons. 

First place, second place and third place for the Mumbo Jumbo tournament went to Yale University, Boston University and Cornell University, respectively, according to TMT External Affairs Officer Eve Feldberg. As hosts, Tufts received honorable mention but did not win any awards as it wanted to open the awards up to the other teams invited, TMT Co-President Nicholas Teleky explained.

The tournament was structured in a 2-2 format, with event registration and two rounds on Saturday, followed by two rounds and closing ceremonies on Sunday, according to the American Mock Trial Association's (AMTA) website.

Lyons, a senior, spoke about the endurance of both the tournament and Tufts' own program.

“As an entirely student-run organization, the fact that Mumbo Jumbo, a fairly large invitational, has continued to be maintained after eight years is indicative of the strength of our mock trial program,” she said.

Teleky, also a senior, underscored the wide range of schools that attended this year's competition.

“This year’s Mumbo Jumbo [tournament] was one of the most diverse fields we've had in recent memory,” he told the Daily in an email.

According to Feldberg, a sophomore, the world of college mock trial extends farther than participation in individual tournaments, as the AMTA releases a case that all mock trial groups work on until the National Championship Tournament in April hosted by the University of Cincinnati.

According to the AMTA's website, this year's case focused on the shooting and death of a child by another child when the two were left home alone.

Lyons explained that the case requires teams to determine if a child's death was on purpose or by accident.

“Depending on how the plaintiff decides to do things, the case can either focus on intent or about parental negligence, which means that each round of competition is incredibly variable,” Feldberg told the Daily in an email.

According to Feldberg, TMT also competed at the end of November in the Beach Party Invitational hosted by the University of California Irvine, to which only 12 of the top schools in the country were invited.

“This was Tufts' first time being invited, and we made it to the final four," she said. "In the world of Mock Trial, a program like Tufts that is completely student-run is unusual, so it's even more exciting that we did so well at a tournament of coached teams.”

Tufts was one of the first schools in tournament history to make it to the finals upon first appearance at the tournament, Teleky added.

This year's season for TMT is coming to a close in two weekends, as two unstacked teams -- teams that are composed of members of varying skill levels -- will represent Tufts in the 19th Annual Yale Invitational, one of the most competitive mock trial tournaments, Feldberg noted.

With Tufts' recent performance, Teleky has big aspirations for TMT this spring. 

“Personally, I'm hoping that by the end of April, Tufts Mock Trial will be the national champions," he said. "We have a lot of talent this year, from an experienced class of seniors to one of our most talented freshman classes to date. I'm really excited to see how far we can run with the momentum we've built over this semester.”

Lyons agreed, noting that TMT is looking to continue to grow its recognition.

“TMT wants to keep improving and becoming more of a national presence,” she said.