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8 high schools battle in mock trial
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Posted on Mar 10 2006
Eight private and public high schools on Saipan and Tinian are battling in the 8th Annual CNMI High School Mock Trial Competition at the Judicial Complex in Susupe.
This year’s participating students are from Eucon International, Grace Christian Academy, Marianas Baptist Academy, Marianas High School, Mt. Carmel High School, Saipan International School, Saipan Southern High School, and Tinian High School.
The mock trial, which is sponsored by the CNMI Bar Association, kicked off yesterday morning.
The top four teams will continue the battle today at 8:45am. The championship round will follow after the inspirational remarks by Justice John A. Manglona at 12 noon.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Justice Alex Munson will preside over the championship round while seven lawyers will serve as jurors, according to mock trial coordinator attorney Karen Klaver.
The jurors are the ones grading the participants individually as to how they present the case.
“It is not who wins the trial, but who presents the best,” Klaver said.
During the awarding ceremony, which will be today at 2:30pm, the best prosecutor and best defense attorney will be named, along with the best witness for the prosecution and defense.
This year’s case is CNMI v. Les (Leslie Hayden). It is a criminal case dealing with violation of parental control of minors; liability for conduct of another; complicity; and manslaughter in the second degree.
Attorney Theresa Kim, co-coordinator of the event, brought up the problem.
The champion team will represent the CNMI in the National High School Mock Trial Competition in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 11-13, 2006.
Last year’s champion, Northern Marianas Academy failed to participate this year, along with Rota and Kagman for various reasons, Klaver said.
Mt. Carmel School was the first mock trial champion in 1999 when the late Justice Ramon C. Villagomez started the program to bring high schools into the courtroom.
The goal of the competition is to promote and further the understanding and appreciation of the judicial system, court procedures, and the legal system, among others.
