Mock Trial

In this article, Audrey will explain what the Mock Trial Team is and how to join.

GpHS Mock Trial

By: Audrey Roetling

GPHS Mock Trial is about to kick off its 2023-24 season. Mock Trial is a both scripted and unscripted reenactment of court. Competitions are held at courthouses, where students will have the chance to play witnesses, work on their speech skills, study cases with real lawyers, and have debates based on a legal case prompt. All students, freshman to senior year, are welcome. This year, the club will meet on Tuesdays, from 3:45 - 5:00, in Room 134. Mr. Knapp is the advisor. The first meeting was held on Oct. 3.

Mock Trial is one of the best opportunities provided for the students at GPHS, especially if they are interested in becoming lawyers or acting. Anyone who joins Mock Trial will be able to work with lawyers (who come to the high school to help prepare the case), perform cases in front of real judges, participate in competitions at the courthouse, and further develop knowledge of the legal system. Club involvement looks great on college resumes. According to Stenson University, joining Mock Trial will “Improve your speaking skills, regardless of your field of choice it improves analytical and communication skills. Those who want to play witnesses can develop their own role and determine how they interpret the description in the case.” If someone is interested in acting, then joining Mock Trial is a chance for them to develop their own characters and play a role based on their interpretation of a character in the case. Using the description of the character, one could choose what the character’s lines are, how they dress, and other details. The only condition is that they do not mess with the case itself or witness testimony of it. If students are interested in Mock Trial, then join the meetings in Oct., 4:45 -5:00. If there is some sort of compilation, for example, a student has a fall sport and cannot start until Nov., then they are encouraged to stop by Room 134 so that they can discuss with Mr.Knapp the idea of getting caught up for when they are able to join.

GPHS has had a history of going to state for Mock Trial competitions. In a 2015 local article written by GPHS Dean Christopher Rosseta, he mentions, “This marks the fourth straight year that our team has gone to the state competition. Our Mock Trial was divided into 3 teams.” This confirms that GPHS made it to state every year from 2011 to 2015 and that GPHS had such a large program. At one point in time, they had multiple teams. In an article written by attorney Justin Rosas, he compliments, “ Congratulations to St. Mary’s and Grants Pass High School for winning the Mock Trial Competition.” In Feb. 2020, an article from GPHS Scroll states, “ Grants Pass High School secured a spot in to compete in State Competition in Portland.” GPHS has a long history of winning Mock Trial State Competitions, but it seems that, during COVID, and with many seniors graduating, it has seemed to become less known to the campus. However, 2023 is the year the team is going to be rebuilt, so no one is expected to have experience.

Image from: Flickr

Mrs. Tyrrell ran the Mock Trial for two years around 2016-2018 before her maternity leave. During the years that Mrs. Tyrrell ran the club, the team made it to state. She reflected that “ The team was successful because we had driven students who put the work in and we had lawyers who come in all the time to direct them.” The lawyers who worked with GPHS during that time period included Rachelle Selvig, Mark Lansing, and Brenden Davis. She discussed how she loved running Mock Trial and how it was very hard for her to leave: “It was a really special opportunity to see driven students expressing themselves, learning skills for the real world, and there was really something for everyone. Also, it is direct preparation for a political career. Students can work with real lawyers and go to competitions in front of judges. Judges will sometimes say to students, 'You are so professional. I would hire you.’ ” That seems to be the ultimate compliment and inspiration for someone interested in being a lawyer and shows how it is direct preparation for someone interested in law. On the contrary, one factor that she believes would have made her Mock Trial season and future ones better was “Recruiting more people interested in acting to play witnesses. A successful Mock Trial team needs a balance of people to perform lawyers and witnesses.” This can be a struggle because thespians are some of the most booked people at school but, even if someone is just interested in improving their acting skills, then Mock Trial is the place to receive some experience!

After a long history of GPHS making it to state and winning competitions, it is about time that our large and successful school goes back to competitions and state competitions. If any student is interested in joining Mock Trial, then fill out the Google form below, follow the Instagram account at gphs.mocktrialclub, contact the advisor Mr. Knapp in Room 134, invite some friends, and show up to the meetings on Tuesdays from 3:45-5:00. If someone happens to have any schedule conflicts, questions, or concerns, then contact Mr. Knapp or write it in the Google form and he will see what he can do!

GPHS Mock Trial looks forward to having actors, motivated students, and future political figures join them this season!

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