It won’t be lawyers with years of legal training arguing their case in front of Superior Court Justice Juan Lizama today. Rather, spectators at Friday’s mock trial at the House of Justice will be witnessing high school students attempting to legally outmaneuver their counterparts in a fictitious case.<\/p>\n
The mock trial, coordinated by the CNMI Bar Association with help from community donations, brings together high school students from Saipan, Rota, and Tinian in a legal competition where the students act as attorneys and argue to their case in front of an actual judge.<\/p>\n
“I have never known much about trials and the way the law works before I participated in the mock trials,” said Nathan Menez, Tinian High School student who is participating in this year’s competition. “I’ve learned much about how the law works since then.”<\/p>\n
Teams of six students from Marianas High School, Mount Carmel School, Marianas Baptist Academy, Rota High School, Calvary Christian, and Tinian High School will be employing various legal tactics and pleading their case, which involves a woman who is being prosecuted for causing the death of her one-year-old child.<\/p>\n
Judge Lizama, Judge Virginia Sablan-Onerheim, Judge Alexandro C. Castro and Judge Alex R. Munson will be trying some of the mock cases. The students participating in the trial will be acting as counsel and witnesses for the prosecution as well as the defense.<\/p>\n
Justice Ramon G. Villagomez started the program in 1999. The first full mock trial competition, where Tinian High School defeated the other participating high schools, was held only last year. The Tinian team then went on to compete in the National Mock Trial Competition in South Carolina. This was also the first time any team from the Commonwealth tea, participated in the national event.<\/p>\n
“It was the experience of a lifetime, one that I will treasure for all time,” said Patricia Aguon, Tinian High School student.<\/p>\n
This year, the triumphant team will have the opportunity in May to travel to Omaha, Nebraska, where the national competition will be held.<\/p>\n
“The benefits of this competition are numerous,” said Sheila N. Trianni, Mock Trial Coordinator for the CNMI Bar Association. “It rouses the competitive spirits between our schools while simultaneously allowing the participants to heighten their understanding and appreciation of the judicial system, court procedures, and the legal system.<\/p>\n
According to the Bar Association, the mock trial also improves basic skills in critical thinking, speaking, reading and reasoning. The trial also affords the legal and education communities better communication and cooperation.<\/p>\n
The public is encouraged to attend the mock trials, which takes place today at 1:30 and 5:30 and on Saturday at 1:30 at the House of Justice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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