Academy cadet wins mock trial competition

(Courtesy photo)

By Ray Bowden

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — An Air Force Academy cadet took the ‘top attorney’ award at a legal mock trial competition in Boulder, Colorado, Jan. 19-20.

Legal studies major Cadet 1st Class Max Hunter took first place at the Colorado University-Boulder Battle 2019.

The American Mock Trial Association competition is one of many in U.S. to prepare undergraduates for AMTA tournaments February through April.

“When I found out I’d won ‘top attorney,’ it was neat — but I was more worried about how [the Academy’s] team placed,” Hunter said.

Hunter successfully argued a case involving a chimpanzee attack on a talk show, with the trainer and the TV show’s staff suing each other for liability.

“I attribute my advocacy skills to the outstanding law professors who train us [Majors Carman Leone, Timothy Goines, Kasey Hawkins and Jenna Arroyo],” he said. “My mock trial experience has given me the confidence and advocacy skills needed to persuade an audience.”

More than a dozen U.S. universities competed, including Vanderbilt and Berkeley.

“Hunter outperformed the vast majority of students at the tournament, showing persuasiveness and legal precision — the hallmarks of any great litigator,” Leone said.

Hunter, from Rineyville, Kentucky, is the cadet in charge of the Academy’s Mock Trial Team.