26 named best performers in 2009 junior mock trial

Twenty-six students from mostly private schools were named best performers in the non-competitive 2009 Junior Mock Trial held Saturday at the U.S. District Court.

Seven teams from six middle schools joined the event, which was organized by the NMI Council for the Humanities.

Of the 42 official delegates, 26 were awarded certificates of excellence for effectively demonstrating their roles in this year’s resolve: a first-degree murder case involving a lawyer.

Mock trial participants who were recognized for outstanding performances as attorney included Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja’s Maricel Atalig; Grace Christian Academy’s Peter Camacho, Angela Mamaril, Anastasia Schweiger, and Glen Florendo; Tinian Junior High’s Kyle Sandbergen; Rota Junior High’s Mona Manglona and BriAnnie Taimanao; Whispering Palms School’s Joon Ko and Christian Miller; and Mount Carmel School’s Paula Castro, Andrea Manese, and Victor Cabrera.

Named outstanding witnesses were Van Cing of Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja; GCA’s Anastasia Schweiger, Crystalline Cristobal, Aira Jaye Batallones and Terence Ito; Tinian Junior High’s Yunha Seo; Rota Junior High’s Beda Mundo and Zahra Fraizer; WPS’s Raina Klaver and Jake Lee; and MCS’s Frank Villagomez, Josie Santos, and Ginny Wu.

Of the seven school teams, two were from GCA.

Scott Russell, NMI Council’s program officer, said they were elated to see the first time participation of Rota and Tinian schools in the annual event.

This year, two teams backed out at the last minute—Saipan International School and Chacha Oceanview Junior High.

The event aims to provide a better understanding and appreciation of the judicial system and prepare students for the mock trial competition in high school.

Funded by a federal grant, the council intends to continue the event following the “great interest” noted from the students.

Before the event, the council conducted a workshop for school teams to help them prepare. The students, Russell said, were provided case materials two months prior to the “trial.”

The council thanked Judge Alex Munson for allowing the use of his court for the event and lauded the participation of acting judge, Rep. Joseph Camacho, and lawyer Teresa Kin for volunteering to serve as bailiff.

“This is to allow students to come together and experience the duty of judges and lawyers, how the court functions and to get better appreciation to the court system,” Camacho told Saipan Tribune.

During the “trial,” organizers looked at the familiarity of students with the rules of evidence, how they argued and presented their points of view.

“It is important that lawyers know how to raise specific and timely objections, and how to avoid improper and unnecessary evidence,” Camacho said during the trial.

Camacho has been involved in the junior mock trial since its inception four years ago. He was also a volunteer lawyer-coach to the high school mock trial.

Four of the best trial performers are convinced that the junior mock will help them to become better persons and trial performers in the future.

For Raina Klaver, Whispering Palms School’s best attorney, the event was a learning experience.

“If you want to become a lawyer, it would help you a lot. Mock trial is really interesting. It will provide us learning about the judicial system, which is very important,” she told Tribune.

The seventh grader is the daughter of lawyer Karen Klaver, who has been involved in the mock trial competitions for many years.

“I’ve been involved and have been attending mock trial events since I was 2 years old…because of my mom. Over the years, I can say I have a better understanding now,” she said.

Best witness Jake Lee, also of WPS, said the event—though noncompetitive—was very interactive.

“It’s really a good way to interact with others and learn more about the law. By joining, we’re exploring knowledge beyond the textbooks. It’s fun and interesting,” he said.

Grace Christian Academy’s Anastasia Schweiger, also best witness awardee, believes that participation in the event develops her public speaking skills.

An active member of the National Junior Forensic League, the 14-year-old student said the event helped her compete in the Lincoln Douglas debate, which also requires public speaking skills.

Schweiger has been joining the junior mock trial for two years now.

GCA’s best defense attorney, Glen Florendo, said the “trial” helped boost his confidence and self-esteem.

“All you need to do is be yourself, speak with confidence and interact with other people,” he said.

Florendo has been with the mock trial since his sixth grade.