TMT HISTORY
Tufts Mock Trial was re-founded in 2003 by then-sophomores Sam Bookin '06 and Lindsey Lautin '06, taking back a program that had fallen off the map in 2000. Both had competed in High School mock trial, but were dismayed to find that there was no mock trial program at Tufts University. During that first year, Sam and Lindsey established the foundations for the organization that would become Tufts Mock Trial, establishing it under the Pre-Legal Society, and visiting a Regional Tournament at Princeton to learn how collegiate mock trial was conducted.
The following season, 2004-2005, Tufts Mock Trial competed in its first regional at Clark University.
In 2005-2006, TMT again competed at Clark University. That year, however, TMT was beset by bureaucratic and financial difficulties that were surmounted by the time regionals began. Upon the completion of 2005-2006 season, Hailey Fitzgerald '08 and Jeffrey Kiok '09 were elected as incoming Co-Presidents, who then began a plan of expanding the program to two teams.
In 2006-2007, TMT went to its first invitational, attending the Crimson Classic, as well as sending two teams to the Jamaica, Queens Regional in New York City. During the off-season, TMT went through a significant re-organization, creating the forerunner of its present Constitution, as well as solidifying its financial position with the Tufts Community Union.
In 2007-2008, TMT attended various invitationals, and sent two teams to the New Haven Regional, and one team to the Bristol Regional. The program ran a Quidnunc Course through the Tufts Experimental College, allowing members to advance their skills and receive academic credit for the significant work done throughout the year. This year, TMT achieved its first national bid out of New Haven to the Hamilton, Ohio National Tournament, placing third overall in that Regional. In Ohio, the Tufts team ranked well against the high-caliber competition there.
In 2008-2009, TMT elected two new Co-Presidents, Jim Wright '09 and Rebekah Sokol '10, while outgoing Co-President Jeffrey Kiok '09 graduated early and became an alumni coach. The program expanded to four teams after competitive tryouts. TMT Co-President Rebekah Sokol and Jeffrey Kiok co-taught an Explorations Course (an advising option for incoming Tufts first-year students) in the fall semester, while Rebekah and Jim taught the annual Mock Trial Quidnunc course in the spring semester. Additionally, in November, the program hosted the First Annual Mumbo Jumbo Invitational Tournament, which was quite successful. As well as expanding within the Tufts community, TMT had a very successful season. TMT won two bids out of the Boston Regional to the Memphis, Tennessee Opening Round Championship Site (ORCS). Furthermore, two additional Tufts teams competed in the Bristol, Rhode Island Regional, winning another bid there to an ORCS in Greenville, South Carolina. TMT ultimately declined its third bid, and sent two teams to Memphis. At the 2009 Memphis ORCS, team 1402 garnered 5 wins, receiving an honorable mention and coming up 1 win short of qualifying for the National Championship, while team 1401 won 3 ballots.
In 2009-2010, under the direction of Co-Presidents Rebekah Sokol '10 and Jon Lautin '11 continued to improve. The second annual Mumbo Jumbo Invitation proved to be a huge success with more teams, better competition, and better judging. In the Spring, TMT won one bid at the Providence, RI AMTA Regional Tournament as well as four individual awards.