NMA in upset win at mock trial competition

Upsets were the rule of the day at the two-day 2005 CNMI High School Mock Trial Competition, which ended yesterday with the Northern Marianas Academy team romping off with the winner’s trophy—a first for the school.

The Northern Marianas Academy trial team won the hearts and coveted nod of the jury, bagging this year’s championship in a win that even attorney-coach Diane Cabrera said was a surprise for the school.

Last year’s champion, Saipan Southern High School, did not even make it to this year’s semi-finals. It was also a major disappointment for Tinian High School, which had bagged the championship for four years straight before falling to Saipan Southern High. Tinian High School, however, managed to be in the semi-final round.

The event was held at the Guma Hustisia’s Supreme Court and was presided over by U.S. District Court judge Alex Munson. The panel of jurors was comprised of legal counsels and attorneys who had the most difficult task of selecting the winning trial team.

From six semi-finalists, the final two teams were narrowed down to NMA facing off with Grace Christian Academy. The final round featured a fictitious murder trial of a woman who killed her abusive husband. GCA represented the defense side, while NMA took the prosecution’s side.

The other schools that made it to the semi-finals were Marianas High School, Mount Carmel School, and Tinian High School. A total of 11 schools participated this year.

The NMA team was composed of Dixie Inos, Jackie Orpiano, Elizabeth Stump, Roxanne Arriola, Tiana Palacios, Ana Borlas, Jennifer Orpiano, Seung Hee Chong, Jaime Fejeran, Seung Hwan Oh, and Queanna Sablan.

Their attorney-coaches were Cabrera, Joshua Burger, Edward Manibusan, and Joseph Arriola. The team adviser was Susan Fishman-Tudor.

The entire team will be flying to North Carolina for the National High School Mock Trial competition that will be held on May 5 to 7.

Before the announcement of the winner, the jury and the presiding judge gave tips and advice to the students. Majority of them praised the students’ courage and excellent presentations. They also provided suggestions on techniques that the winners could use when they represent the CNMI in the national competition.

Marianas High School coach Cherlyn Cabrera, whose team made it to the top six, said that, although her team did not make it, they were glad that such an event was held to encourage students to consider a career in the field of law.

The CNMI High School Mock Trial Competition was started in 1999 by Justice Ramon C. Villagomez to expose high school students to the legal system.