Senate Resolution 166 PAG LIN 1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. ___ 1 2 BY REDFERN 1 3 A Resolution honoring the founding and growth of the 1 4 American Mock Trial Association. 1 5 WHEREAS, in 1982, Richard Calkins, then dean of 1 6 Drake University Law School, Gene Reifsnider, and Dan 1 7 Stamatelos began to explore the idea of bringing the 1 8 experience of mock trial competition to Iowa high 1 9 school students; and 1 10 WHEREAS, in 1983, the Iowa Supreme Court, Drake Law 1 11 School, and the Young Lawyers Division of the Iowa Bar 1 12 Association joined together to create Iowa's first 1 13 high school mock trial tournament, judged by volunteer 1 14 lawyers from around the state; and 1 15 WHEREAS, in 1985, this tournament had grown to 1 16 include both high school and middle school teams with 1 17 regional competitions culminating in a state 1 18 championship tournament; and 1 19 WHEREAS, in 1985, Mr. Calkins, Mr. Reifsnider, and 1 20 Mr. Stamatelos founded the American Mock Trial 1 21 Association and the first national intercollegiate 1 22 mock trial tournament was held in that same year; and 1 23 WHEREAS, Mr. Calkins has served as president of 1 24 that organization since its founding and will become 1 25 president=emeritus in 2004; and 1 26 WHEREAS, in the 20 years since its founding, the 1 27 American Mock Trial Association has seen explosive 1 28 growth in new programs and team participation, with 1 29 267 colleges and universities fielding 507 teams for 1 30 the 2003=2004 academic year, with almost 60 events 2 1 sanctioned each season and a national championship 2 2 tournament held in Des Moines; and 2 3 WHEREAS, the lawyers, court system, and law schools 2 4 and universities of Iowa combine their resources and 2 5 efforts in ongoing support for the association and the 2 6 tournament; and 2 7 WHEREAS, the American Mock Trial Association now 2 8 hosts the largest nonathletic tournament event in the 2 9 United States; NOW THEREFORE, 2 10 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate 2 11 honors the ongoing role of the American Mock Trial 2 12 Association; first, in offering the experience of mock 2 13 trial practice to undergraduate students; and second, 2 14 for the service the association provides to the legal 2 15 profession by fostering in America's students an 2 16 interest in advocacy and the law; and 2 17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate, on behalf 2 18 of all Iowans, reaffirms the state's commitment to 2 19 support the association and foster its future growth. 2 20 LSB 7080SS 80 2 21 jr/sh/8.1