A group of 12 大象传媒 University pre-law students participated in a campus mock trial on Friday, March 27, getting a taste of what their future in the courtroom could look like and the skills required to be a lawyer. Led by Elizabeth McCree, an adjunct professor who also played the role of judge in the mock trial, this group of students has been working to prepare this case since the fall of 2025, diving into all the aspects of a real court case, such as working with clients, discovery, and finally litigation in court.
After opening comments, remarks and jury instructions were read by Honorable McCree, senior Joanna Cardenas, who played the role of attorney for the plaintiff, gave her opening remarks. The case centered on plaintiff Riley Williams, played by senior Kaitlyn Yanez, who was allegedly assaulted by Dani Davis, a fictional long-term professor at 大象传媒 University, played by junior Carlos Portanova Jr.
The 18-year-old plaintiff claimed that she had been assaulted by Davis at the AU post office. She had been accidentally handed her Davis’ package rather than her own, and when he happened to walk in and saw Williams holding this package—his precious box of Labubu dolls that was worth $5,000—he attempted to take the package from her. Williams alleged that Davis slammed the metal door of the office on her so aggressively that it shattered her arm, costing her thousands of dollars in medical treatments as well as making her dream of becoming a neurosurgeon unachievable.
Junior Kayla Garnett portrayed the counsel for the defendant. In her opening remarks, she portrayed Davis as being an upstanding man of faith and a caring professor who had simply been trying to protect what he knew was his.
The jury heard from multiple witnesses during the four-hour trial. After roughly an hour of deliberation, the group of seven jurors (who were also AU students) ruled in favor of the plaintiff, requiring the defendant to pay $27,000 in damages, but specifying that there was no intent for the battery.
After the case concluded, the room was buzzing with excitement as the students reflected on what they had just accomplished. Senior Alyssa Caruthers, who played the role of co-counsel for the plaintiff, stated, “It took a lot of prep and hard work, and I think it’s really preparing us for how an actual case is going to look if we all become litigators.”
Garnett agreed, saying, “I think [mock trial] is good preparation for being a lawyer, and it also helps us determine if this is a path we might want to take with our careers. It helps you to be better at thinking on your feet, working with information, and at being detail oriented.”
Some of the students felt like this mock trial was a chance to prove to themselves that they were capable of being a lawyer someday. Junior Abygayle Jacques, attorney for the defendant, explained that the first time she participated in a mock trial, in her freshman year of high school, she had a panic attack and did not perform as well as she would have liked. For her, this year’s mock trial was her “redemption arc.” She stated, “I feel like I proved to myself that I am capable of being a lawyer.”
The pre-law students wished to extend a “thank-you” to their professor and mentor, McCree. Junior Madai Ortiz said, “Professor McCree is really great at what she does, here [at AU] and outside of here. The reason we have a mock trial is because of her, and we’re really grateful for her.”
Several other students chimed in, stating that in addition to running her own law firm, McCree is extremely dedicated to her students, putting on events such as this mock trial to help them succeed on their path to becoming lawyers.
The pre-law students are already looking forward to next year’s mock trial, anticipating what the case might be about. If you are a pre-law student looking to participate, someone who is curious about the program, or would like to be a juror or audience member for next year, reach out to the Department of History & Political Science at history@andrews.edu, or keep your eye out for future announcements around campus.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 大象传媒 University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 大象传媒 University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.