Huron High School’s Mock Trial Team is a group of students who meet up weekly to simulate mock murder trials, with scenarios that seem straight from the hit TV series “Law and Order." Far from being united by a general fondness for gruesome situations, the students of the team share a passion for speech and law. However, not all members start off on the team as suave-speaking lawyers. This club, among the many academic clubs at Huron, provides an opportunity for students to gain new skills.

“When I first started, I was not very confident in myself,” said Huron High senior John Lee, president of the Mock Trial Team. “[I] pretty much messed up all the speeches and questions that I was supposed to conduct as an attorney. But it turned out that it became a practice and I became much more confident.”

 

 

 

 

The Huron High Mock Trial Team of the 2009-2010 school year is equipped with two divisions of teams. Each small team meets independently of the other and prepares two cases, one for the prosecution and one for defense. Each team is made up of around ten members. The case packets that the teams work on are uniformly distributed throughout the state. This year, the case involves a cheating incident at a competitive high school that turns sour when a student death is mixed up in the dishonesty.

 

The majority of the team is made up of students in their senior and junior year. The staff advisor is Huron history teacher, Mr. Florey. To get ready for the competition, the team is stepping up practice times to once or twice every week.

 

Michigan student mock trial teams are supported by the Michigan Center for Civic Education. Competitions are held to be exciting and invigorating for the participants. The opponent teams arriving on site are randomly appointed to the side of prosecution of defense. It contains all the essential elements of an actual court hearing, complete with the opening statement by the prosecution lawyer and the cross examination of witnesses.

 

Academic clubs such as Mock Trial cater to specific and general interests of students. For those who are considering a law degree or civil service, Mock Trial presents an ideal ground to gain experience for a potential occupation. In addition, the speech and presentation skills involved in each Mock Trial competition can aide virtually all students in the future.

 

“I guess the biggest advantages for a high school student in Mock Trial club would be building confidence and learning how to talk in front of the audience,” John agrees. “In college, this'll probably be one of the most essential skills that you could have, since most of the programs and clubs in colleges would force you to be serious and very active.”

 

Historically, the Mock Trial Team at Huron has often been defeated at regional competitions. The last time the team has made it to the state competition was two years ago.

 

However, this year both team divisions at Huron are confident to do better than past years. In preparation for the March regional competitions, both teams have started regular weekly meetings. One thing’s for sure: when these driven students put their heads together and work hard, they’re bound to do well.