April 21, 2009
Mock Trials- 2009 Recap
Mock Trials
Jessie Junker
March 21 2009
Order in the courtroom was an unnecessary phrase for the State Mock Trials.
The 31st State Mock Trial Competition was held at the Albuquerque Metropolitan Courthouse on March 20th and 21st. The Competition is an event designed to allow students to simulate the presents in a courtroom and participate in a legal case. Schools are given a case in October that is slightly modified from an actual court case. This year’s case was about cyberstalking. Schools had to form teams that take the side of the defendant and the plaintiff.
Over fifteen schools attend and many registering two or more teams. The incredibly mature students amazed the audience with their professionalism. The students prepared for this event for many months researching and planning their approach to the given case. Mock Trials improve oral and written communication skills, teaches students teamwork and how to process information and make decisions quickly. It also allows students to learn the proper procedures in the courtroom as well as learning how to present a case, how to cross-examine, and how to close a case.
The winner of this year’s competition was Cibola High School, prevailing all three of their presentations of the case. The first runner up was Sandia Prep winning two out of three of their cases and Sandia High school winning one of two cases.
