The Real News Louisiana

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University has launched a competitive mock trial team, the Demons of Due Process. The eight-member squad will compete nationally through the American Mock Trial Association.  
According to K. Jacob Ruppert, court counsel and district hearing officer for the 10th State Judicial District, the team made its debut to an enthusiastic reception from the local legal community, including the very court where its coaches practice.
Ruppert, a 20-year veteran of the state judiciary, is working with Dr. Rebecca Riall, NSU’s pre-law and paralegal studies coordinator, to create and coordinate the team. Riall maintains an active litigation practice and serves as district hearing officer for the 11th State Judicial District Court in Sabine Parish.  The team is led by Hannah Gore of Pineville and Hailey Wolff of Leesville.
Ruppert said the program is designed to close the gap between classroom theory and courtroom reality. Students develop cases using authentic evidence and applicable law, then argue those cases before actual judges and juries. Ruppert will teach the team’s anchor curriculum, a three-credit, senior-level mock trial course.
“Our PLPS classes mirror exactly what students experience in law school, and this mock trial course takes it a step further, giving them a raw unfiltered look at what litigation is really like,” said Ruppert.
The mock trial team is the latest milestone for NSU’s Pre-Law and Paralegal Studies program, which has grown steadily under Riall’s guidance. Riall said the program prepares graduates to hit the ground running on their first day in law school or paralegal profession. 
The American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) serves as the governing body for intercollegiate mock trial competition. Its mission is to create opportunities for students, alumni and schools to come together in an environment that combines education with competition. Through immersive trial simulations, the organization aims to develop the next generation of litigators, public speakers and critical thinkers.