After weeks of practice and refining their arguments, the mock trial team has begun final preparations for upcoming competitions through a series of scrimmages. The team held its first scrimmage on Wednesday, Nov. 6, and after going over feedback and making adjustments, they held their second scrimmage with improved scripts on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Scrimmages are the first time the team has the opportunity to run through the entire trial to simulate a real competition. Mock trial advisor Elizabeth Bellas noted the importance of practicing and adjusting their roles before competing against other schools.
“A significant part of our score [at competitions] is the presentation,” Bellas said. “So people write their testimonies and directs and interview the witnesses [which is important] but actually being able to present it and eventually memorize it is a bigger part of your score, so it’s really good to practice and hear how the other side reacts.”
Each participating school in the mock trial program will form two legal teams, comprising attorneys and witnesses: one representing the defense and the other representing the prosecution. The case, selected annually by the State of California, focuses this year on an alleged kidnapping involving two political rivals.
Junior Sofia Montiverdi plays the defendant Logan Gold, and she has been working with her attorney, Shai Ring, on pre-planned answers to the questions she will be asked during direct questioning. She must also know her story well enough to be prepared for cross-examination, during which the prosecution can ask her unanticipated questions.. As a new member of the team, the early-season scrimmages have helped her get accustomed to trial dynamics and procedure.
“I feel like [the scrimmage] went really well but I definitely need to work on keeping my answers shorter and making sure that I have everything memorized,” Montiverdi said.
Since the witnesses have a very different role than the attorneys, Bellas said the scrimmage was a good opportunity for both groups to work together to find balance as a legal team.
“My attorneys are working really hard on objections … that’s our biggest thing this year and one of the most challenging parts, and our witnesses are working on being more emotional and acting more,” Bellas said.
For Junior Samson Einhorn, the opportunity to run through the trial process has allowed him to develop his character as a witness and get more comfortable on the stand.
“I definitely have things to work on, but I think as a team we did really well … it was a good test though to see where we are and what we can improve on,” Einhorn said.
This year, the team has five student leaders helping facilitate meetings and communication, mentor the new participants, and create a schedule for practices. According to Einhorn, their contribution to the team has already made a significant impact.
“Practices have been really good. Everyone is really helpful. Shai Ring is super knowledgeable. He helps me sort through what I need to improve on and where not to say certain things,” Einhorn said
As the team continues to prepare for upcoming scrimmages versus other teams, including the first of the season against Aragon High School on Dec. 7, Bellas thinks this year’s student leadership will be essential to the team’s success.
“I have a really strong team of leads this year, they have really learned their lessons from last year and have seen what we need to do better this year,” Bellas said. “Overall I think everyone is feeling pretty optimistic … we’re in a pretty good place right now.”
