The Mock Trial club sat around a table in room 4570 preparing for their trial last Tuesday afternoon against Malden Catholic at the Somerville District Court. All members were dressed to kill in suits and ties, looking like a presidential governing cabinet. The room’s atmosphere was filled with conversation, with some members cracking jokes as well as club veterans giving advice to new members. Ms. MacWilliam, the club advisor, sat at her desk, overseeing her club as well as giving them tips on what to say during the trial.
The Mock Trial club consists of 10 members: Team Captain Katherine Olivares Guzman, Thalia Patiño, Joshua Alsaindor, Lornisha Cazeau, Bryan Landaverde, Milena Antonio, Sebastian Bryan, Sarah Tiberi and Kristin Guzman. Most members are seniors in the Law pathway, a few are underclassmen. These past few weeks, the club has been reviewing trial basics, including objections, landmark cases and the legal system.
“I personally love public speaking but during a trial, it’s a struggle to debate someone, state your opinion, remember the facts but it also gives me an opportunity to speak in an area where everyone is comfortable,” said junior Milena Antonio, a new addition to the mock trial team and a student in the Business, Law and Hospitality pathway. “I learned how to be an advocate. We learn how to use affidavits of different witnesses to get information and win our case.”
Senior Katherine Olivares Guzman expressed her own opinions of what she learned at the club. “My first year definitely loosened me up. I lost the fear of public speaking and mock trial helped me with analytical thinking, ” said Guzman. “It’s definitely a lot of critical thinking and reading things over and over.”
According to both Antonio and Guzman, the trial went differently than expected, going against Malden Catholic, veteran winners of state mock trials.
“I think we did the best that we possibly could, especially with the time that we had,” said Guzman. “I am really proud of what we accomplished on the case and against a powerhouse like Malden Catholic as well.”
“I would say it didn’t go the way we wanted it to but we fought hard,” said Antonio. “They have a bunch of resources we don’t have and they’re really prepared but we also put up a good fight,”
Club advisor and EHS teacher Carolyn MacWilliam reflected on her time as club advisor and her team’s performance on Tuesday. “I started mock trial my second year teaching here,” said MacWilliam. “They were looking for someone to run a debate team but I didn’t really have any experience with debate so I suggested a mock trial team. The administration thought it was a good idea and I started it.”
MacWilliam has been teaching at EHS for 17 years and teaches Law 2, 3, US History and AP Government.
“I thought that they did a great job,” said MacWilliam about her club’s performance on Tuesday. “I think that everyone was prepared and I think having it in the courtroom that we had it in really helped people because it’s a really nice courtroom. They weren’t stressed out, they’re a very hardworking team.
