F&M Stories
F&M Mock Trial Transforms Real-World Learning into Victory
Leadership at Franklin & Marshall College takes many forms 鈥� but it always begins with action. For Richardson 鈥淩ichie鈥� Dockery 鈥�26, a government major and psychology minor, this meant transforming academic theory into tangible achievement as captain of F&M Mock Trial. After triumphing at the 2026 Penn State Mock Trial regional tournament, the championship team advanced to the (AMTA) Opening Round Championship Series in Hamilton, Ohio, March 13-15.
鈥淭his is our second-straight mock trial championship at the 2026 Penn State Regional tournament,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淎s a result, we have qualified for the national championship.鈥�
The team defeated Kent State (2-0), Lafayette College (3-1) and tied with Penn State (1-1) in the Feb. 14-15 mock trial tournament at Penn State in State College.
In mock trial, students receive a case that they prepare to present and argue in front of a panel of judges. Photo credit: Deb Grove
The F&M Mock Trial team celebrated their victory at the regional tournament. Photo credit: Deb Grove
Students prepare to question and cross-examine witnesses and give opening and closing arguments at the competition. Photo credit: Deb Grove
The F&M Mock Trial team is advancing to the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) Opening Round Championship Series in Hamilton, Ohio, March 13-15. Photo provided by Richie Dockery.
At the Opening Round Championship Series, the Diplomats faced Princeton University, Duke University, Cornell University, Penn State, and other top-performing colleges and universities. Unlike those institutions, many of which have endowed mock trial programs that offer scholarships to incoming members, F&M鈥檚 Mock Trial team is a high-caliber, student-led club organization.
"In that respect, we are David versus Goliath. Nobody predicts us to do this well; and yet, here we are," Dockery said. "If we imagine the tournament structure like basketball鈥檚 March Madness, Penn State was the conference championship and the Miami University Tournament is the first round. There's a forum that competitors in college use, , and they were doing projections, like a sports analyst would. For our tournament at State College, they had the shoo-ins, Princeton and I believe Penn State. We weren't even in the mix. Nobody predicted us to do this well."
F&M Mock Trial epitomizes the College鈥檚 commitment to learning by doing. In mock trials, students receive a case (criminal or civil; this year鈥檚 iteration is criminal) totaling more than 250 pages and including affidavits, sworn statements, interrogations, medical reports, and exhibits. The cases comprise the same materials an attorney prepping for an actual trial would use.
"They prepare a theory of what happened, based on the material they're given," said Mike Vitlip, Director of Legal & Government Professions Advising and F&M Mock Trial Adviser. "They present and argue the case, questioning witnesses, cross examining other teams' witnesses, giving opening statements and closing arguments 鈥� doing all the different parts of a real-life trial in front of a panel of judges."
This victory is just the latest in a tradition of excellence for F&M Mock Trial.
"The team has made it to this level of competition four times since I've joined F&M in 2019," Vitlip said.
Meet the Championship Team
- Salvador 鈥淪al鈥� Avelar 鈥�27 of Hialeah, Fla.
- Ibrahim Bin Amjad 鈥�27 of Lahore, Pakistan
- Eddie Chisholm 鈥�27 of Columbia Falls, Mont.
- Aashi Dadhania 鈥�27 of Hainesport, N.J.
- Albert 鈥淎J鈥� DeNovellis 鈥�29 of Vineland, N.J.
- Nico DiPinto 鈥�29 of Collingswood, N.J.
- Richie Dockery 鈥�26 of Los Angeles
- Sydney Johnson 鈥�27 of San Mateo, Calif.
- Belle Jolly 鈥�26 of Newtown Square, Pa.
- Jacob Port 鈥�27 of New Hope, Pa.
- Leonardo 鈥淟eo鈥� Puntoni 鈥�28 of Philadelphia
- Anne 鈥淣eola鈥� Trainor 鈥�27 of Pennington, N.J.
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