Off the Track

You hear it announced almost every Tuesday at assembly, Ms. Pigman and Ms. Thompson standing awkwardly at the podium, recognizing the six varsity and ten JV members of the McGehee Mock Trial team.   

“Mock Trial won state,” says Ms. Pigman one week.    

“We won regionals,” says Ms. Thompson another week, “but more importantly we beat Jesuit.”     

And most recently even Ms. Powers and Ms. Wargo have come forth to lend their praises.   

“So far as we know we are the first all girl team to make it to the national competition,” they say, forcing all members to stand, shy and a little hesitant in front of their peers.  Obviously, the team was not so bashful in front of the Mock Trial judges at state or regionals.   

Everyone claps, as they would for volleyball, swimming, soccer or even the random announcement of a fifth grade bake sale.  But do we truly know what the Mock Trial team is all about?  The time consuming cases?  The practice?  The sweat?  Certainly, Mock Trial does not involve nylon volleyball nets or short shorts.  

“Mock trial is basically like a debate team,” said varsity member, junior Stella R.  “We’re given a case by the state and we have to pretend to be lawyers and witnesses.”  

While “pretending” seems to be a rather elementary sport for all of us, there is nothing elementary in spending nearly five or more hours a week on a single case, memorizing affidavits, dividing up the roles of lawyer and witness, practicing direct and cross examinations or simply teaching new members the rules of the game.  

“It’s an extracurricular that allows people interested in law to learn through firsthand experience how our legal system works,” said Varsity member, senior Betsy M.  “It requires students to the learn rules of evidence, courtroom procedure, etcetera and gives them a chance to compete against other schools in order to teach them how to best argue a set of facts in the form of a case.”  

“It’s kind of like a courtroom drama where we’re the actors,” added Stella, who has actively participated on the team since ninth grade.  “You have to be the best at really embracing the character.” 

Stella, who won best witness distinction at regionals 2a, obviously has little trouble acting.     

“It’s more than just knowing your facts,” she said, “you have to become the character.”  In order to truly embody her character as a witness at regionals, Stella adopted a Scottish accent.   

“[Judges] score witnesses based on how convincingly they answer their questions, how they handle the pressure on cross [examinations] and how much they fit into the character of the witness,” said Betsy, who has also received the best witness distinction.   

Despite the enormous time commitment and work (“say goodbye to any social life,” said Stella), Mock Trial is an experience that most of the members agree will help them later on in life.     

“It requires you to think on your feet and it’s really all about how well you can argue a bunch of facts within certain restrictions set forth by law,” said Betsy.  “It’s kind of like a puzzle.”  

Many of us have trucked out to the Pontchartrain Center to cheer for the Hawks, painted red and grey, dominating the volleyball court.  We do not, however, find ourselves cheering in the courtroom.     

With the nationals fast approaching, and a new case on its way, we, at the least, should join Ms. Powers and Ms. Wargo in commending the efforts of Mock Trial.   

“Watching the girls at Mock Trial always is an awe-inspiring experience,” said Ms. Wargo.  “I am amazed at the way they can think on their feet and speak articulately on the spot.  They know the law, and they have become increasingly comfortable applying it.”  

“When it all comes down to it,” Stella referenced fellow varsity Mock Trial team member, Eleanor O’Q, “we’re a bunch of teenagers dressed up in our mothers’ clothes, arguing about a blueberry pie.”