Middle Tennessee State University forensic science majors met at the intersection of justice and science in the courtroom of Circuit Court Judge Barry Tidwell in Rutherford County, Tennessee, for the culmination of a semester-long project.
Two dozen students in the forensic science seminar, including Lindsey Ridge, of Jasper, participated in a mock trial program organized by Tidwell and MTSU adjunct instructor Andrea King, who is also a forensic scientist with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
“One of the big things a forensic scientist has to do is testify in court,” explained Frank Bailey, MTSU professor and director of MTSU’s Forensic Science program offered through the Department of Biology within the College of Basic and Applied Sciences. “You must be believable and confident on the stand.”
Tidwell, whose 16th Judicial District covers Rutherford and Cannon counties, presided over the mock trial, which took place in mid-November at the Rutherford County Judicial Center in Murfreesboro. Rutherford County Assistant District Attorney Allyson Abbott and public defender Sean Williams cross-examined students based on prefabricated scenarios they created as part of coursework.
In the weeks leading up to the mock trial, students in the class crafted their own cases and professional “characters,” then wrote up reports based on the scenarios, King explained.
“The big picture is, you’re telling the court the science you performed. Overall, what they learn is comparison science vs. hard science,” King said. “Testifying with a judge and defense in a court proceeding, and being able to tell them what you do, gives them a leg up.”
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