After three months of vigorous preparation, deep commitment and boundless hard work, the RHS Mock Trial defense team came in strong with a victory on Tuesday, Jan. 7, followed by another team victory on the plaintiff’s side on Thursday, Jan. 16, in two competitions held at the Morris County Courthouse.
“It was an exciting night for us, as this was our second year competing in the Mock Trial competition,” teacher-coach Robert Stadtlander said. “Everyone was so incredibly prepared, and it showed.”
Each year, Mock Trial competitions are held nationwide. Schools must create two teams with lawyers and witnesses who then fully immerse themselves in the given case. The club and its competitions offer a unique opportunity for students to learn how a court trial works while becoming part of a welcoming community.
“I had so much fun preparing for the trial, and I made so many new friends,” said sophomore Amelia Longa, who played a key witness in the case.
Since October, team members have been practicing their objections, memorizing roles and creating questions in preparation for competition season. Their case, Capella v. Petzicon Products, Inc., dealt with product liability following a lethal malfunction of an over-the-counter flea treatment.
The defense team competed first on Jan. 7, easily defeating the opposing plaintiff’s side. This win was no stand-alone feat but a culmination of the hours poured into practice leading up to the tournament.
“It was really nerve-racking facing the judge, the jury and the people in the stands,” junior defense lawyer Emily Lindsey said. “It was really satisfying to win though.”
That following Thursday, Jan. 16, the plaintiff’s side of the team arrived at the Morris County Courthouse, securing another victory and advancing onto the quarterfinals.
“The lawyers did a fantastic job of objecting when they needed to, working as a team and being focused on the task at hand, and they had a great ability to adapt to the other witnesses and attorneys,” Stadtlander added. “The witnesses completely sunk into the roles they performed and were very believable as the people they were trying to portray.”
Despite these efforts, the Mock Trial team’s winning streak finally came to an end at the quarterfinals on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The plaintiff’s side competed, and although the scores were tight, the team lost to an evenly matched opponent.
