Written By Jonathan Markovics |

Every Tuesday in Room 4 at The Morgan School, you will find a group of twelve students rehearsing for the annual fall Mock Trial Competition.  Mock Trial is literally a “mock” trial run by Civics First CT.  Civics First was established in 1976 and “is a private, non-profit association that promotes and conducts law-related education programs and projects in Connecticut’s public and private schools, courtrooms and communities.”

The breakdown of the Mock Trial is as follows:  Each high school is considered one team, and in that one team are two sides:  prosecutor and defense.  Both sides have six students that take on the role of either an attorney or a witness.  Both the prosecutor and defense sides have three attorneys and three witnesses.  The goal of both sides is for the attorneys and wittnesses to work together and create a theme of the case to argue.

After weeks of preparation, or lack of, teams gather at a courthouse and compete against different teams.  In the court room, both teams deliver opening statements, call witnesses, make objections, cross-examine witnesses, and present  closing statements.  In a real court case, the judge will deliver a guily or not guilty verdict; but, for Mock Trial the “judges” look for presentation of facts, an overall understanding of the case, performance of witness role play, and opening and closing statements.

For the 2013 Mock Trial Competition, The Morgan School went to the New Haven Courthouse on Wednesday, December 4 and Wednesday, December 11.  On Wednesday, December 4 the defense side of our team faced Choate Rosemary Hall’s prosecution side and left with a victory.  On Wednesday, December 11, the prosecution side of our team faced Stonington High School and lost.

The Morgan Mock Trial Team would like to give a big thanks to Mr. Graham.  Mr. Graham was a devoted advisor that put a tremendous amount of effort and time into the club.