MVSU Mock Trial Team earns award in tournament

October 30, 2017

JACKSON, Miss.— Mississippi Valley State University’s Mock Trial Team recently participated in the Jackson Joust Mock Trial Tournament, bringing home one award.

MVSU competed in two-rounds during the one-day tournament, hosted Sept. 30 at Millsaps College in Jackson.

Darius Bailey, a freshmen pre-law/legal studies and English double major from Montgomery, Ala., won an outstanding witness award for defense for his role as Jamie Morrison, an uber driver.

Joining Bailey on Valley’s green team were students Timothy Coleman, Kenya Jones, Barbara Duncan, Alexxus Ervins, Kambreca Mitchell, and Jasmine Murphy.

MVSU’s white team included: Donovan Brownlee, Jaishone Cornelius, Tiwana Fraizer, Austin Gray, Angel Jackson, Lasharda Leasy, Jakaiyla Procter, Rodarius Turner, and Martavious Washington.

Both teams reportedly scored well and had attorneys as well as witnesses who ranked on ballots of the event’s eight judges. 

A total of sixteen teams competed from schools in surrounding areas, inclusing Millsaps College, The University of Mississippi, Mississippi University for Women, Louisiana State University, Mississippi College, and The University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Dr. Larry Chapel serves as the educator coach for MVSU’s team while Greenwood, MS based attorney Neysha Sanders serves as the attorney coach.

The program is sponsored by MVSU’s Department of Social Sciences, The Office of Academic Affairs, the Office of University Advancement, the Office of Sponsored Programs, and the Office of the President.

Upcoming events for the team include an exhibition scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, at Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

The next tournament will take place at Middle Tennessee State University Nov. 10-11.