Mock Trial, real success

If you’ve ever seen a courtroom drama, or even if you’ve participated in a heated class argument, you understand the excitement of debating. The students on Mock Trial, who just wrapped up their season, spend hours doing exactly that. The Mock Trial team has been working tirelessly since September, with amazing results. On Monday, Dec. 3, the team made it to the semi-finals, something that they’ve never done before. Overall, they placed in the top six out of the 96 teams that originally entered the competition. “I am particularly proud of our team this year. Our Samo team has never entered the semi-finals before, so I applaud their diligence and talent in doing so,” coach William Sadler said. Janet Yang (’20), who has been on the team since middle school, was similarly very impressed with the team’s performance this season. “Getting this far into the competition is an amazing accomplishment. Basically this whole season has been a high point,” Yang said. Not only did the team succeed, but team member Anna Faries (’21) won the outstanding clerk award. The clerk’s job is to keep accurate time for both teams and generally help the judge to make sure the trial runs smoothly. This award means that the scoring attorneys who judge the competitions recognized Faries as the best clerk. “This award represent all the hard work my team, coaches and I have put into the competition. It shows how far my team has come as well as how far I have come as an individual,” Faries said. A Mock Trial competition is no light work, as the team knows. Before each competition the team is given a case, and each team member is assigned to be a witness or lawyer. The coaches work to edit and revise their arguments as well as teach team members skills like how to make and respond to an objection. Some of the best criminal lawyers in Los Angeles are also brought in to help prepare for the trial. The team works very long hours until each of their pieces are memorized; there are no flashcards allowed in a courtroom. The trial start with a pretrial motion, which discusses whether to dismiss or grant a piece of evidence or a charge. Then the actual trial starts, an incredibly lengthy and detailed process. First, there are opening statements, then direct and cross examination of the prosecution witnesses, followed by the same for the defense witnesses. Finally, there are closing arguments and rebuttals. All of this has to be perfectly memorized and prepared. And despite all of the difficulties in perfecting a mock trial, the team pulled together for an outstanding season. “Our team is very good at spotting legal issues and weaknesses in the other team. They have been exceptional in knowing the facts of this case and their relevance to the trial,” Molly Sadler (’19) said. Anyone interested in the Mock Trial program is highly encouraged to try out, as the experience is unforgettable. “It is time-consuming, but it’s very rewarding and you’ll meet some great people through it,” Sadler said.