Lafayette Campus News (www.lafayette.edu), November 28, 2007 — Lafayette’s Mock Trial Team will host the Cartoon Classic invitational tournament Nov. 30 – Dec. 2 in various rooms in Pardee Hall.
A total of 26 teams from 12 colleges and universities throughout the Northeast will be competing. The institutions are Villanova University, University of Pennsylvania, Hamilton College, Rutgers University, Johns Hopkins University, Colby College, Amherst College, University of New Hampshire, Suffolk University, Wesleyan College, Elizabethtown College, and Seton Hall University.
Round one of the competition will be from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 30. Rounds two and three will run 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. Dec. 1 and the final round will be from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Dec. 2. All rounds will be in Pardee Hall. An awards luncheon will be held 12:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Bergethon Room of Marquis Hall.
The Cartoon Classic received its name because competing teams are given the names of cartoon characters, such as Charlie Brown and Mickey Mouse, instead of traditional team numbers.
This year’s fictitious case is The State of Midlands vs. Bobbi Campbell. Don/Dawn Francis, a Child Protective Services worker, entered the home of Bobbi Campbell to remove a child from Campbell’s care. Upon Francis’ entrance, Campbell stabbed Francis with a needle infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Campbell entered into an open guilty plea on the single charge of assault in the second degree and retained the right to a jury sentence recommendation. The mock trial teams are focused on the penalty phase. The State will present evidence of aggravation and the defense may present evidence of mitigation. The penalty range is five to 30 years.
