Boston College Law School Magazine | Down to the Wire
Annual Mock Trial Competition Highlights
By Staniel Brutis ’26 | November 5, 2025
“Mock trials may not involve real facts, but they involve the use of real skills. And in the hands of skillful advocates, those fake facts come alive. They evoke real emotions.”
“That sense of transformation was precisely what Assistant Clinical Professor Steven Van Dyke ’08 captured during the final round of the Boston College Law School 2025 Mock Trial Competition on October 16.”
He likened the participating students to “alchemists,” as they skillfully transformed a fictional case into a gripping courtroom drama that felt as vivid as real life.
The Case: Denning v. Zeta Lambda Nu Fraternity
The trial focused on a tragic accident at a University of Lone Star fraternity party, where 20-year-old Kay Denning died after diving into a shallow, makeshift pool.
- Victoria Denning, Kay’s mother, filed suit against the fraternity, accusing it of negligence and reckless behavior.
- The defense denied liability, arguing the accident was unpredictable and that the fraternity treasurer acted beyond his authorized powers.
Plaintiff’s counsel, Andrew Ordentlich ’26 and Katie Queally ’26, urged the jury to recognize a pattern of negligence, weaving a compelling narrative of carelessness and loss that highlighted the fraternity’s responsibility for Kay Denning’s death.
Summary
The 2025 Boston College Mock Trial demonstrated students' impressive ability to bring fictional cases to life through legal skill and emotional persuasion.
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