Cranberry High School

Order in the court

A Mock Trial experience is exactly what its name suggests - a simulated court case filled with witness statements, evidence, and juries. The student-attorneys are tasked with creating direct- and cross-examination questions to ask the witnesses to present their side of the case, either the plaintiff/prosecution or the defense (depending on the type of case). Students also have to compose and recite opening arguments and summations, which outline the details of the case for the jury, in which the opening argument is first and the summation is last. Witnesses have less material to create; instead, they have to study their pre-created witness statements and answer all questions in accordance with said statements. The teams all have to stay within a 30-minute time limit for their direct examinations and a 5-minute limit for each the opening arguments and summations. The timekeeper times all of the cross and direct exchanges and helps them to stay within their time limit.

The presiding judge over the faux trial is either a real-life judge or attorney, assisted by the bailiff, who is also a real-life law professional. The jury is comprised of roughly 8-12 real-life judges or attorneys as well. 

This year’s trial was a civil one. In said case, a prankster immigrant named Silva Morel came to the United States on a student- and work-visa, completing college and getting a job with a company called Tiger Tail Technologies (TTT). While on a business trip for TTT, Silva claimed to have witnessed a bribery between the company’s CEO and a foreign government official. Silva reported this bribery to legal counsel and government authorities, “blowing the whistle”, or alerting, them to the crime. They decided not to prosecute due to a lack of evidence. Silva was subsequently fired from TTT, with TTT citing his poor work performance and workplace misconduct as grounds for the job termination. Silva, on the other hand, claimed that he was fired for reporting the bribery and because he called the company’s reputation into question. Accordingly, Silva filed a civil lawsuit against the company because 1.) there are protections against whistleblowers in Pennsylvania and 2.) he claimed that he faced “adverse employment action” - discriminatorily fired because he reported a crime regarding the company that employed him. 

The Cranberry team’s first trial was at 1:00, January 31st, at the Erie County Courthouse, against the team from Fort LeBoeuf High School. Cranberry presented the case of the plaintiff, Silva Morel, against the defense of Fort LeBoeuf. Cranberry unanimously won the unofficial verdict (the jury’s initial verdict in favor of the plaintiff) as well as the point total (the factor that determines which team officially wins and moves on.) The final score was 640-527. Cranberry’s second trial took place at 3:00 against Meadville High School, in which Cranberry represented the defense of the company TTT. The deciding factors for the unofficial verdict were close, with four of the ten jury members in favor of Cranberry and six in favor of Meadville, Meadville claiming the unofficial win. The final score was close as well: 904-874 in favor of Meadville. And although Cranberry did not progress to the next level, they represented the school well! 

Court adjourned