March Madness and other Mock Trials are gone………….

The March Madness of NCAA basketball has come to an end. The final four champion, for the second consecutive year, is once again Florida. All of the teams competed two to three times a week from November until March to earn the opportunity to make it into the NCAA’s or the NIT playoff games. They challenge each other as they sharpen their skills in competition. They prepare for the moment of glory that will springboard several of the players into the professional levels. (Five of the Florida team will be drafted into the NBA.)

Can you imagine competition that requires strict planning and preparation daily, weekly, and finally concludes in just one opportunity to win? No, this sport is not like a basketball season where you test your skills in competition on a regular basis. This is MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION! Give it your best in one singular display of knowledge, wit, skill, and procedure. Listen, think, and react in a moment as the defense protects and the prosecution attacks using the law of the land as its weapon; as their left uppercut.

Verbally spar with one another hoping to deliver a series of “blows” that demonstrate that the long arduous work and preparation are a solid base for success. That is what The Morgan Mock Trial Team endures each year.

Practice; learning trial techniques, learning court procedure, discussing what elements their case side has, and finally getting one, six hour opportunity to react on the spot, object to evidence or the manner it is presented, and win or lose because of a momentary overruling by unsympathic judges. That is mock trial. As an attorney, Paige Bogucki, in her first year of competition said, “Mock Trial participation is really a character building experience.” “You stand in a real court, try a real case, and develop organizational and self confidence skills that have helped me to hold myself well in debate in competition and in my school classes.”

These simulated trials introduce students to the realism of court procedures. Students assume the roles of bailiff, court clerk, attorneys, witnesses, and jurors using profile sheets of actual case history that outline essential testimony. Students then develop their case and try to snare the competition with poised carefully set traps. At the same time each team avoids the opponents’ carefully hidden plan to snare them and catch them off guard. Witness for the defense Ania Kadlof says “The mock trial experience allows me to be someone else as a witness. I walk in the shoes of a character and my role helps me to develop new skills and overcome the anxiety of being in front of people. You have to be able to speak freely in front of strangers and answer questions from prosecution attorneys who are always trying to throw off your testimony. One slip up and I could cost our team the chance to keep a defendant out of jail.”

Mock Trial Teams learn the strict procedures of a court and the rules of jurisprudence. They are taught by a legal coach and a educational coach who have a background in not only the judicial system of the United States but were members of a mock trial teams, coached, and/or judged trials at college and middle school levels.

Where did this team come from? Why do people commit to do it? What motivates them?

The Mock Trial team concept at The Morgan School became a reality after the idea of a mock trial team in the middle school level was turned down five years ago. There were not any volunteers who could or would develop a program at that level. Mrs. Mary Kay Jones, a local parent then decided that we needed to try the program at the high school level. She saw the educational value that the Connecticut Consortium for Law & Citizenship Education offered in their mock trial program. She approached Mr. Barney and he asked Social Studies Department head Mr. Jeff Motter to speak to teachers about heading up the program. Mr. Motter turned to Mr. Graham, a Morgan School History teacher and an active participant in the Connecticut Consortium for Law & Citizenship Education as well as The Center for Civic Education. Graham and Jones then went to work pioneering the newest team at The Morgan School.

Over the past three years the students have gained a wealth of experience and knowledge .The cases tried were both civil and criminal. The civil case involved a student suing his school system for not providing educational service. Last year the case was an attempted murder case and this year the case involved cyber stalking. Each case is an actual case that occurred. The team demonstrated wonderful success because of support received from the community. Clinton Police officers Joseph Flynn and Brian Pellegrino as well as F.B.I. agent Marty McBride have all met with the team and presented a perspective to the team regarding legal proceedings from the executive enforcement point of view. In addition a judicial point of view was well represented. Middlesex County Assistant District Prosecutor Barbara Hoffman worked with the team and local attorney Ken McDonough worked 2-4 hours a week with the team in 2005 and 2006. Mr.Bill Barney, The Morgan School principal has provided additional support to the team that allows us to operate each year. This year the team was assisted by local Attorney Brad Sullivan. Brad was on a Mock Trial team in college and law school and added a needed perspective as a former middle school mock trial judge.

The program demands a commitment of 4-6 hours per week, October to April, for students and its administrators. The complexity of rules, procedures, and simple but complex skill of listening as the trial is presented requires focused comprehension. It is in listening to the opposition that you think on your feet and adjust your testimony and question patterns to benefit your teams’ case. You develop many skills. You cannot be thin-skinned as you are critiqued at each meeting about how to improve yourself.

Team Vice-President and prosecution team attorney Caitlyn Jones adds,” The Mock Trial experience is worth every bit of the time and effort we put into it. Its’ helped me demonstrate confidence, study legal procedure and build new relationships with people from all over the state. I also have the experience of learning about many occupational opportunities.” Katrina Patel, a defense team attorney added that “Mock Trial is an innovative club which allows students to argue and literally learn the know -how of the law and the how the system actually works. It is a fun club to participate in.” Jessica Sarkisian, a defense attorney, stated, “Mock Trial gave students the chance to interact with each other and learn how to properly act within the judicial system. It forced participants to deeply analyze legal situations and pieces of writing to draw out conclusions and ideas that are essential both in the courtroom and in the real world. It was a fun experience.”

Next year the club will compete again and will expand the courtroom competition to Manchester Community College and Yale University. Both of whom have Mock Trial programs that allow practice competition. Additional community support will come from State of Connecticut Judge Patrick Clifford who offered to help in the past.

In late May 2007 the team will assemble in the auditorium at The Morgan School to watch the video recording of the

“Final Match of their long season of Competition.” Also, in late May the team will be recognized at a dinner in honor of their competitive efforts sponsored by Connecticut Consortium for Law and Education.