Save The Mock Trial Team!

By Luke Langlois

When Chelsea said the theme was “winter sports,” I figured that I would write up another post about hockey. Unfortunately, the only thing going on in the NHL is the same old regular season of play. There’s nothing particularly interesting about the middle of the season (unless you are an avid fan of hockey, which I still encourage you to be). So, why not write about my other favorite winter sport, MOCK TRIAL?! Yes. It counts. As a participant, I may be biased with this statement, but Mock Trial is easily one of the most underrated clubs at Palm Valley. If you are not sure what exactly Mock Trial is, I encourage you to check out my post linked below that I wrote all the way back in November of 2018. The current problem with Mock Trial at Palm Valley, though, is that seven out of our eleven members are seniors. We only have two juniors, two sophomores, and no freshmen. If something does not change, there will be no team next year. 

Here’s why Mock Trial is great. It’s too late to join this year, as competitions started on February 6th, but keep an eye out for it next year. Here are just a few of the many reasons why Mock Trial should be in your future if you are a 9-12th grader.  

• The cases are always very well-written and fun to read, from the fact-situation (the stone-cold truths of the case) to the often contradictory witness statements. The committee who writes the cases has to make sure that both a prosecution and defense team can make a solid argument from the case with no side having more power than the other. As such, the cases are never simple and are full of nuance. Every detail is meticulously placed, and it always feels like you’re missing something. Essentially, there is never a dull moment when discussing the case.
• The “officials” who moderate competitions are real legal professionals. All of the scoring attorneys are bar-certified, and the judges are either active judges or retired judges. A competition will never be presided over by someone who is not expertly qualified to do so. They’re also all voluntarily offering their time, so they usually are not cruel and jaded people who just want to go home. Few other extracurriculars allow you to interact with true experts in the field. 
• You get to learn about United States law. The core intention of Mock Trial is to teach the students about the law of the United States, court proceedings, what exactly is needed to find someone guilty of alleged crimes, and more. However, this does not mean that Mock Trial is only for students looking for a career in law. Besides learning about the law, you learn some lessons in being an effective public speaker and thinking on your feet when matters don’t go exactly as planned. These are invaluable life skills! While people with theater backgrounds often constitute a big part of the Mock Trial team, that certainly isn’t a requirement, and you can thrive without any knowledge of performance. Plus, with knowledge of the law, you can look at things with a legal eye and not just rely on the often incorrect “court of public opinion.”
• You get to dress nicely. Palm Valley polos are great and all, but how often do you really get razzle-dazzled up and burst into a courtroom with pride. Not very often, I’d wager. Speaking of courtrooms, in Mock Trial, you get to compete where the magic happens. When you walk into a courtroom, you instantly feel like you have become a person of high status and class. It’s not Disneyland, but the courtrooms are magnificently structured, and the Great Seal of the State of California “looking over” every courtroom makes me even feel a bit patriotic. There’s a lot of history in that Seal! 

Juggling schoolwork, clubs, and sports is already super difficult, so why not add Mock Trial to that mix? Seriously, though, it may be tough to add something else to your schedule, but I can (almost) guarantee that you will not regret joining Mock Trial. Riches in the forms of award medals are also available if you happen to have the talent. . .

Find my previous post “Mock Trial Explained” Below

Mock Trial: EXPLAINED!

Winter Sports Editor: Chelsea