By Paige Galloway

Attorneys lined up with papers spread in front of them and pitchers of water. Witnesses sitting together getting last minute glances at scripts while waiting for the trial to start. A hint of nervousness is in the air and seems to increase with each tick of the clock as the team waits for the trial to start. The other team finally files into the courtroom and takes their respective seats. That team did not realize that by the end of this trial the Galway Mock Trail team would be moving on to Semi-Finals against Schenectady.  Last minute alternates Stephen Garney and Nikki Kupferman did a great job in adjusting to the courtroom setting; while Hannah Smith won Best Advocate and Jessica Demarest received Best Witness.

What exactly does it take to be a part of the Mock Trial team? It takes preparation, practice and an ability to deal with the nerves that hit during the trial. Entering the courtroom is like walking into a “Law and Order” episode. There is always a place for the judge with a witness stand on one side and then two tables in front of the judge: one for the defense lawyers and one for the prosecution. An area with rows of chairs is for the jurors and there is normally other seating available.

What roles are there on the team? There are attorneys and witnesses. Galway has 6 main members of the team (and two alternates), three are attorneys: Joe English, Hannah Smith and Abi Wood and three witnesses: Cody Alvord, Jessica Demarest and Paige Galloway. The attorneys have to work with their witnesses to create a script for the direct (which is when they ask their witness questions during a trial), they have to know the affidavits of their witnesses and the witnesses they have to cross (when they ask questions to members on the other team), they need to know the various objects and responses to objects and may at some point have to write an opening or closing. Witnesses have to know two affidavits of the two people they are, the questions that their attorneys will ask them, try to figure out what aspects of their affidavit the other team’s attorneys will question them on, and they also need to be able to think on their feet and answer questions in a way that does not make their person look bad.

Is Mock Trial enjoyable? Yes, even though it takes a lot of preparation and it can be very frightening to sit in the witness stand and be grilled by the opposing team Mock Trial is fun. It is definitely enjoyable when the team works well together and is able to win a trial.