Camille Welsh

Elle Saleeby (10), Renee Song (10) and Sasha Prasad (10) sit at the top row of the teleconference room among notes and informational packets. They grouped together to rehearse their case after Miller’s lecture. “The witnesses rehearse with their attorney, so they know generally what they’re going to say,” Hammerman said.

The third meeting of Mock Trial commenced this week Oct. 28. The newer members were separated from the experienced members to sort out the needs of different participants. From there, the newer members listened to co-coach Jeff Miller’s lecture on how to form solid arguments and what to expect during rounds. 

“The more experienced members, we’ve been to multiple competitions, we know how the whole game works,” club member Calvino Hammerman (11) said. “Whereas new members, they know the idea of the program, but they still have to learn how it actually works.”

In Mock Trial, members are given a scripted court case that varies each year, where they play the roles of either witnesses or attorneys. They meet once a week to prepare their arguments and rehearse before their official court case. These cases are held at the county courthouse every January.

“Depending on whether you’re a lawyer or witness, you go through the case, read the information you’re provided with, then you form your argument over how you think you’re right, how you think the opposing side has a flaw in their case, why you should be found guilty or not,” Hammerman said.

The introductory point of Mock Trial is over, and the club has picked up in pace. The members have begun practicing their case by dividing into groups of 3 and posing as judges, witnesses and attorneys. The participants read from a script of their case and improvise by adding objections. 

“The current case we’re working on this year is a wrongful death suit where a man fell off an amusement park ride, and they are claiming that the amusement park’s seat belts were faulty, so that would show an obvious side where they would lose,” Hammerman said. “But the man was known for doing daredevil stunts, so it could have been his own fault, and that’s where [members could make arguments for] both sides.”