Mock Trial Regional Competition
In this article, Audrey will be reporting on the events of the Mock Trial Regional Competition that occurred on Feb. 22, 2025 at the Jackson County Courthouse.
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Mock Trial Regional Competition 2025
Mock Trial Regional Competition 2025
By: Audrey Roetling
By: Audrey Roetling
On Sat. Feb. 22, 2025, the GPHS Mock Trial teams competed at the regional competition held at the Jackson County Courthouse. Mock Trial returned as a program to Grants Pass High School last year for the first time since it faded out during the COVID-19 epidemic. This year, there were enough new members to form both a JV and varsity team for competition. Each of those teams split into sub-teams of plaintiff or defense. This means that the teams competing included JV plaintiff, JV defense, varsity plaintiff, and varsity defense. Each team argues against another school's contrasting team at competition. There were three rounds on the schedule. During each round, one JV and one varsity team performed. Each sub-team had the opportunity to compete one or two times throughout the day.
Mock Trial is both a scripted and unscripted reenactment of court-- based on a court case each team receives. All of the high school mock trial teams in Oregon receive the same case for competition so that they can compete at the state level if they win their regional round. The case includes the rules, stipulations, and witness affidavits (their perspective of the case), the exhibits of evidence, and the objections to questions. The attorney's role for the plaintiff is to prove the burden-- that the defendant (the person who has charges pressed against them) is “liable” or “guilty”. The defense attorneys have to be more creative, invalidating the claims of the Burden of Proof by offering explanations of alternative events that could have happened rather than the defendant being at fault. The defense must poke holes in the plaintiff's argument so that it appears that the defendant is (more likely than not) not responsible for the claims charged against them. Each team has three witnesses who act out their roles and testify to what is in their affidavit. These roles are improv, but participants have to remain within the scope of the case materials.
Photo Credit: Mrs. Mathews
At Mock Trial competition, the teams are scored not only based on the arguments and presentations of the attorneys, but also on how well the witnesses stayed in character and responded to questioning. The witnesses have to be good at acting and must come up with ways to avoid being impeached by making themselves appear reliable to the jury without going against their affidavits of sometimes rather obnoxious characters. They also have to know how to not give the opposing party attorney’s information without avoiding the questioning. The attorneys are scored on individual parts of the trial. Nebula Huertos-Martinez, a GPHS junior who has had experience as both a witness and attorney for the GPHS Mock Trial team, stated, “Playing an attorney role really teaches you how to know what the other team wants you to say as a witness. Cross-examination is fun because you get to make the other team's witness look bad… I love reading the affidavit and putting personality into the character. My favorite is being a direct attorney, but being a witness is also fun.” Mock Trial is the perfect mixture of intellect and drama; although attorney and witness roles are very different, all individuals get their fair share of both elements.
The attorneys are scored individually on the different parts over the course of the trial. First comes the opening statement, when one attorney from each side gives a five-minute speech telling the story of the case in a way that paints their client in a positive light. The attorney gives all of the evidence and points the team expects to come out over the course of the trial. Zella Kathol, the GPHS Freshman Team Captain who performed the opening statement stated, “I loved opening the trial! I enjoyed laying a foundation and providing an explanation of what was expected in the case!” Opening statements are typically memorized and may not argue the elements of the case.
Next, the plaintiff will direct-examine their three witnesses and the defense will cross-examine those same three witnesses; then, the defense will direct-examine their three witnesses and the plaintiff will cross-examine those three witnesses. Attorneys are scored individually on each cross or direct examination of each witness. Direct-examination includes an attorney asking their own witness open-ended questions to make their witness seem reliable and get out their perspective of the story.
Cross-examination is questioning the other team's witness by asking leading questions, which get the witness to testify to specific information often requiring a “yes” or “no” response. Witnesses get more points for being witty during cross-examination and sharing more information that the opposing attorney wanted with their question.
Sterling Heater, a GPHS sophomore who portrayed the defendant of this year's case, stated, "It was all I expected and so much more! The thrill of being put on the stand, being pressured, was so exciting and nerve-racking! It was amazing!”
Attorneys can also gain more points by objecting to the other team's questioning when a question violates a rule, and responding to objections by arguing why, in fact, their question did not violate a rule. The judges can determine that, yes, the objection was valid, “sustained”, or that the objection was incorrect and “overruled”. If an objection is sustained, then an attorney cannot ask that question. Attorneys can also admit exhibits of evidence to witnesses during questioning to add to their case.
Mock Trial rounds end with a closing argument, where one attorney from each side has five minutes to argue why they won the case. Closing arguments are improv, and cannot be written out or memorized in advance like opening statements, because the information that comes out in the course of one round is ever-changing, and it is a different speech every time it is performed. The plaintiff can have a rebuttal at the end of defense's closing argument if they reserved time during their five minutes to repurpose. All of these factors are added together for an official score in a Mock Trial round.
Photo Credit: Mrs. Mathews
The cases in Mock Trial alternate between civil and criminal every year. This year, the case was civil: Honeycutt vs. Snow. It involved the plaintiff, Hayden Honeycutt, who had a carnival in his family for nearly a century. One day, the ride broke down. Patrons were suspended in the air for three hours, but everyone got down safely. Then, a former employee of the carnival named Charlie Baggins made a post on Instagram and edited it with AI, making it look like people fell off the ride and died, claiming it was a joke. Immediately following this, a famous influencer named Sammy Snow reposted it and gained a lot of attention online. The carnival closed and the case was a claim of defamation against Sammy Snow, which included proving elements that the post was a publication, the post was false, the post was defamatory in nature, Sammy Snow was at fault, and Hayden Honeycutt lost his carnival as a result. The plaintiff argues points that prove the claim of defamation. These include arguments that the employees were harassed by Snow’s followers and that the carnival had a decline in attendance during the summer, which is abnormal for a seasonal carnival. The defense pokes holes in the argument by making claims such as a repost is not a publication, the carnival would have lost attendance either way, the carnival is dangerous and the post wasn't a lie, or that Charlie Baggins, the original poster, is at fault rather than Sammy Snow.
Mock Trial practices usually consist of a run-through of the case. Elizabeth Dugan, a GPHS junior who placed third out of all schools for best attorney at the competition, commented, “I love the competitive atmosphere of Mock Trial because it is a safe place to grow political views and opinions. You always feel respected, even with the light-hearted teasing.” Mock Trial teaches the individual a lot about government and the court of law. It is a safe space to develop critical thinking skills, speak opinions, and ask questions. “My favorite part of Mock Trial was being able to talk politics and debate friends,” states Kaelum Ward, a GPHS freshman who performed closing arguments. Mock Trial practices also consisted of debate topics on various occasions. Every single Mock Trial practice at Grants Pass High School is coached by local attorneys Brodia Minter and Adrianna Reinhart. McKinley Meyer, a GPHS senior who performed the opening statement, said, “Brodia and Adrianna were a lot different than I expected— in a good way. They were strict with the rules, but not really with us. They would always point out arguments we could make, they weren't terrifying, they wanted us to win, and they made sure we were prepared at competition.”
Photo Credit: Mrs. Mathews
Mock Trial competition teaches individuals how to think on their feet, think from multiple perspectives, and communicate effectively. It opens the door to good associations, including making friends on teams. It also gives opportunities to meet judges and attorneys. Some students are even granted internships and job shadow opportunities if their requests are approved. “The best part of Mock Trial over the last two years has been being a part of a team that helps you develop skills you aren't as strong in and also the feeling of comradery we have”, stated KalEl Gillette, GPHS Senior Captain, “Adding to the variable of competition, it developed skills of thinking in my feet, skills I couldn’t have progressed further without this competitive environment we create”.
Mock Trial season will start again in early Oct. 2025. There is absolutely no experience needed to join. There is a need for people who love to debate and speak in public (to take attorney roles), as well as those who love acting (to play witnesses). Practices are every Tues. and Thurs. From 3:45 p.m. -6 p.m. in Room 130, Mrs. Mathews room. There is nothing like the thrill of Mock Trial Competition. Anyone interested in learning to outwit their friends, become confident in public speaking, or have an unforgettable experience of humor and drama should join the team. It is really one of the best high school experiences out there.
Sources:
Interview with Elizabeth Dugan
Interview with Kaelum Ward
Interview with KalEl Gillette
Interview with McKinley Meyer
Interview with Nebula Huertos-Martinez
Interview with Sterling Heater
Interview with Zella Kathol
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