A piping-hot pot of green tea greeted Mock Trial club members as they walked into advisor Jim Chin’s classroom for auditions on Tuesday, Sept. 27. While only a few of the auditioners indulged in the caffeinated beverage, it was a friendly ice breaker to calm their nerves before performing in front of the five club officers who will judge their auditions and decide the team’s roster. 

Junior Keziah Gopalla is one of those team leaders. 

“We [look for students] who are confident and know what [they are saying],” said Gopalla.

The club, which meets every Tuesday after school, announced this year’s roster on Friday, Sept. 30. The new team of attorneys and witnesses now has until competition season in late January to prepare and rehearse their courtroom performance.

“[During meetings] we form our arguments — direct examinations, cross examinations, and pre-trial arguments — in order to prepare for competitions that will be happening in the spring semester. We’ll teach everyone about different objections and how to respond,” Gopalla said.

34 students auditioned for roles this year —  notably less than in past years. As a result,  the club opted to remove its junior varsity team in favor of a single varsity roster. The club is considering giving understudy roles to select students who didn’t quite make the cut.

For students who are interested in mock trial, making the competition roster isn’t the be-all and end-all. Gopalla encourages those who aren’t given a spot to still attend meetings and try again next year. 

“Keep practicing. If you want, you can come to the meetings and listen in to prepare for next year,” Gopalla said.