By Minda Conroe
Sun Staff Intern
NEW BERLIN – The Unadilla Valley High School Mock Trial team was recognized last week by the Chenango County Bar Association as the 2007 County Champions.
Our team, comprised of 10 students under the guidance of Coach Rick Loeffler and attorney/advisor Thomas Miller, competed against other area schools such as Gilbertsville Mt-Upton, Bainbridge-Guilford and Afton. Competitions were held in Norwich at the county courthouse or in city court.
Mock Trial is a school activity that not only requires time and dedication from its members, but also skill and knowledge. Each December, teams are presented with a fictitious case. This year, the schools tried a cyber-stalking case. Each case comes in a booklet that includes the stipulated facts, or the basic story of the case, some actual related court cases, and the excerpt from the Penal Law of the main crime committed in the case. It is the team’s responsibility to read and understand both sides of the case – the defense and the prosecution. The teams must prepare for both sides, as they could be either at one or another time during a competition.
There are two main roles in a Mock Trial Competition: a lawyer and a witness. The lawyer, for either the defense side or prosecution, must prepare questions to ask witnesses. They will prepare direct examination questions, which they ask their own witnesses, and cross-examination questions, for the “opposing counsel’s” witnesses. Lawyers must be quick-thinkers, ready to object to unfair questioning or un-responsive answers, and readily explain themselves. Lawyers also must prepare opening and closing statements, which set the stage and close the curtains on the trial.
The second role in mock trial is that of a witness. Three are needed for both sides and they must memorize their role. They are given an affidavit, or statements that their character has made. From this affidavit, the witness must take on the mind-set and feelings of their character and answer questions in that manner from both sides. They, like lawyers, must be ready to react to anything thrown their way, and prove that they know the character inside and out.
A tremendous amount of work goes into these competitions, and win or lose, it’s all a great experience. As a member of the UV team for the past 3 years, I have discovered that one must have a passion for the law, as this Mock Trial Competition takes so much time and effort. We, as a team, have learned so much, and we appreciate all the people who have given their time for us: Mr. Rick Loeffler, for his constant tolerance of our stress-inducing lawyer-like antics; and Mr. Tom Miller, for his real-life experience and his persistence in helping us get everything “just right.”
All the work paid-off the moment we stepped foot into the court room. I can remember the first time I presented my case in front of Judge Sullivan. I was only 16 at the time. I had no idea what I had gotten into, and yet all I could think was, “Man, am I sure glad I bought a suit!” The whole aura of the court, the judge, and even that metal detector really made me feel like I was doing something honorable. My great experience in this organization has taught me so much, and really has given me focus for my future. I’m sure the rest of the team and the other area teams can say the same.