Mock Trial News

April 30, 2007

State Champs - Three Years in a Row

Judge Memorial Catholic High School’s Mock Trial team went all the way to a state championship, for the third time in a row. They went up against Mountain View in the finals and ended up on top in an extremely close match-up.

The team worked hard all season to memorize and practice their parts, and the practice paid off. This is Judge Memorial’s second three-peat, a repeat three-peat, and they don’t intend for it to be their last.

The team will soon be headed to Dallas, Texas for the National competition to compete against the best teams in the nation. They have been working hard and practicing almost every day so they will be prepared to put up a fight and do well in the huge competition. Seniors Abby Nelson, Emily Rizzo, Alex Highsmith, Laura Burchett, and Paul Fischer will be leading the team along with sophomores Jimin Brelsford, Caitlyn King, Tom Luchs, and Josh Whitaker.

The case for nationals is about an explosion that occurred when the ship Euphoric collided with the ship Miss Ellie. The ship Miss Ellie was carrying magnesium which made it blow up, but the question of the case is who’s to blame? It is a double-lawsuit case that will be intense during trial, and that could easily go both ways. The case is based off of true events that happened in the harbor of Texas City, Texas on April 16, 1941.

We wish the best for Judge’s Mock Trial team and know they will do a wonderful job in representing Utah in the National competition! Good luck!

By: Alyssa Omana, Tedi Tsuruda, and Abby Nelson

Posted by System Administrator at 9:52am | Link

March 29, 2007

Judge's Mock Trial Preparing for Finals!

Judge's mock trial team Team B moves on to the State Finals on Tuesday evening against Mountain View. The team won last Wednesday, when they played St. Joseph's Catholic High School in the Semifinals. It was a close trial, but Judge pushed through and had a good turnout.

Best witnesses were Caitlin King and Alyssa Omana, and best Plaintiff attorney was Jimin Brelsford. Judge's other team, Team A was knocked out when they lost one ballot in the Quarter Finals against Grantsville. For team A, best witness was Levaughn Wilkons, and the best Plaintiff attorney was Laura Burchett and Alex Highsmith. Each teams really worked really hard this year, being memorized and prepared for anything that came their way. Congratulations Judge Mock Trial Teams, and good luck!

by Tedi Tsuruda and Alyssa Omana

Posted by System Administrator at 10:48am | Link

March 7, 2007

On the Road Again

It’s that time again, and we’re headed in the right direction. Judge’s Mock Trial Teams are just starting out the season and have already been ranked first and second in the State. Saturday was a victorious day for both Team A and Team B. Team B winning both ballots of an average score 109 to 94 over Provo and Team A winning 109 to 103 over Lone Peak.

Team A consists of seniors Laura Burchett, Alex Highsmith, and Tedi Tsuruda; sophomores Josh Whittaker, Nickie Worth, Levaughn Wilkins, Dane Brodke, and Christina Romero. Team B consists of Allysa Omana, Emily Rizzo, Abby Nelson, Paul Fisher; sophomores Catlyn King, Jimin Brelsford, Tom Luchs, Brendan Schnopp; and freshman Alex Lenzen.

Best lawyers were named Emily Rizzo, Jimin Brelfsford, Laura Burchett, and Alex Highsmith. Emily Rizzo had an outstanding performance with a closing argument that left the judges in awe. Jimin Brelsford opened the case and started the team out strong to lead Team B to victory. Laura Burchett and Alex Highsmith of Team A were a power duo who worked together to prove a strong case to the judges. The lawyers weren’t the only ones with amazing performances.

Best witnesses who confused and baffled the other teams were Tom Luchs, Levaughn Wilkins, and Josh Whittaker. We could not have accomplished what we have with out the help of our coaches. We greatly appreciate the help on long Thursday nights, and the practices at the court house.

Thank you so much to Dianna Pugh, Nicole Salazaar-Hall, Brent Hall, Judge William Thorne, Gregg Brelsford, and Art Holder. Look forward to our article for next week, when both teams take on Skyline and Tooele.

by Abby Nelson, Allysa Omana, and Tedi Tsuruda

Posted by System Administrator at 2:45pm | Link

May 22, 2006

Mock Trial takes 22nd in nation!

During the week of May 10-14th, the Judge Memorial Mock Trial was sent to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to represent Utah in the National Mock Trial Competition. There were eight students who were sent to represent the State. These students included Mary Royal, Kelly O'Neill, and Laura Burchett who acted as attorneys, Sierra Walton, Alex Highsmith and Emily Rizzo who acted as witnesses and Jimin Brelsford and LeVaughn Wilkins who acted as timekeepers.

The trial was released by the National Mock Trial Association and was about a rodeo accident. Billie Jo Murray was an excellent bronc rider who was known for winning competitions and always putting on a good show. She had a long history in the bronc riding tradition. Her father, Jimmie Joe Murray was also a rider on the rodeo circuit. However, Billie had a long standing rivalry with another rider. This rider was Cody Boren. The rivalry was not a new one. Cody Boren's father Slim Boren had been the archrival of Jimmie Jo Murray.

Cody had used up all his savings to help pay for his fathers cancer treatments and needed money for college. This was why Cody had entered the competition this year. There was a scholarship at stake for the winner of the competition. Cody needed the money and he came in more times than not to Billie Jo Murray.

The night before the competition there was a hoedown where the competitors drew for the horses they would ride the next day. Cody drew Sad Sally a docile old mare and Billie drew Sooner Fury the meanest wildest horse in the entire rodeo. After the draw the competitors went to a party.

The next day started out like any other competition did. However, Billie Jo Murray's ride changed the day. Soon after coming out of the chute her hack rein snapped and she fell on the dirt floor to her death.

The State (Prosecution) was trying to prove that Cody Boren cut Billie's hack rein and therefore committed murder in the second degree.

Prior to leaving for Oklahoma City, the Judge Mock Trial team had put in a great deal of work to prepare for the trial. For the Prosecution Sierra Walton portrayed the part of Sam Nigh the detective who investigated the crime, Alex Highsmith portrayed the part of Sean McGee a rodeo clown who supposedly saw Cody Boren in the arena with a knife the night before the competition, and Emily Rizzo portrayed Macy Henry the best friend and traveling buddy of Billie Jo.
For the Defense, Sierra Walton portrayed the role of Sidney Bellmon an expert in rope equipment, Alex Highsmith portrayed the role of the Defendant Dakota "Cody" Boren, and Emily Rizzo portrayed the role of Ripley Kerr the Vice President of the National CoEd Rodeo Association.

Wednesday, May 10th: The team departed from Salt Lake City and arrived in Oklahoma City later in the afternoon. This day the team prepared and practiced late into the night. There was not much time left in the day once the team got situated in the hotel, but they still managed to find any spare minute to practice.

Thursday, May 11th: The morning began with the team having to switch hotels. Today was the first official day of the National Competition. The remainder of the morning was spent practicing and making last minute adjustments on materials. Around one o'clock, the team was scheduled for a scrimmage round against Missouri. This scrimmage went quite well and the team was able to make one more set of adjustments. Later that evening was the pin trading ceremony between the states. This was an opportunity for the members of the team to get to meet people from the other states. After the dinner chaos erupted as the students were using there best arguing skills to get the items they wanted from students from other states. After the pin trading ceremony was completed the students returned to their rooms and continued to practice and memorize late into the night. The students were ready for the next days competition.

Friday May 12th: The students began their morning early with a continental breakfast which was served in the dining area of the hotel. At 7:30 am the National Mock Trial Association released the sides (Prosecution or Defense) that the schools would be portraying at the competition at 8:00 am. After the breakfast the students had to walk several blocks to the courthouse. The first competition was against the state of Louisiana. The school was an all boys school in New Orleans. It was the battle of the sexes. The Judge Memorial team was all girls and the New Orleans team was all boys. Judge Memorial was chosen to represent the Prosecution in this case. The competition went very well, but unfortunately the team did not end up winning any of the ballots in this trial. After the first trial was completed the team walked back to the hotel were lunch was being served. Arby's Restaurant had catered food in and it was a pleasant surprise for the students. The students went over a few last minute points from the trial earlier and then began their walk back to the courthouse for the second trial of the day. The second trial sides (Prosecution vs. Defense) was announced at 12:30 pm. The next trial began at 1:00. This trial was against the state of Minnesota. Judge was chosen to portray the Defense side of the case in this trial. This trial went very well and Judge ended up winning one of the ballots in this competition. Later that evening the team decided they needed to relax and have some fun. They went to Bricktown in Oklahoma City. They went and ate an Italian restaurant which was in a mall which had a river running through it. The team went on a tour on the boat on this river. After they left the Water Taxi the team decided to go to the Oklahoma City Memorial. This memorial was in memory of those who had died in the bombing of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building by Timothy McVeigh. The memorial was very moving and evoked many emotions out of the students. There are two marble walls which stand opposite of one another with a reflection pool in the middle. The one wall says 9:01 (the time the building was hit) and the other says 9:03 (the time the building fell). On the other side of the memorial there was 168 office chairs representing the people who died in the tragedy. At the complete opposite end of the memorial was a statue of Jesus. Jesus had his back to the memorial and was crying. The students walked quietly back to the hotel, practiced a little more and finally went to bed.

Saturday, May 13th: The second day of the actual trials the students got up once again and prepared for their trial at 8:00 am. This trial Judge was chosen to represent the Prosecution. The team competed against a team from Wyoming. Despite some of the team members getting sick and still having to compete, the team won all three ballots from the trial. It was then time for lunch and the team walked across the street to an office building where lunch was being served. The team ate on the 24th floor of the building which had a spectacular view of the surrounding Okalahoma City area. Lunch passed by quickly and soon it was time for the second trial of the day. This trial the team was chosen to portray the Defense. They competed against a team from Mississippi. This would be the last Mock Trial the Seniors (Kelly O'Neill, Sierra Walton, and Mary Royal) would ever compete in. All three of these students had been competing in Mock Trials for the last 6 years. This trial went very well and once again Judge ended up winning all three ballots. After the trial was over the students went back to the hotel, relieved that their stress was finally over. Later that night was the awards banquet. The students all dressed up nicely and went to the dinner which was held at the Cox Convention Center. At the dinner several students from Judge were honored. In each trial only one lawyer and one witness are recorded as the most effective. Throughout the course of the four trials Judge competed in Kelly O'Neill won most effective attorney three times, Emily Rizzo received most effective witness twice and Alex Highsmith received most effective witness once. After the banquet there was a 70's themed dance available for the students to attend.

Sunday, May 14th: The students had to get off to a very early start. They had to be out of the hotel by around 4:30 am. Needless to say the students were not very alert on the plane ride home. The students landed back in Salt Lake City around 10 am in the morning. The students were happy to get home, but they had a wonderful time in Oklahoma City. Judge Memorial did a wonderful job at Nationals and ended up placing 22nd in the Nation! This is the highest Utah has ever placed. This success would not have been possible without the tremendous help and support of Ms. Dianna Pugh, Mr. Gregg Brelsford, Judge William Thorne, Mr. Brent Hall, Ms. Nicole Salazar-Hall, and Mr. Art Holder. All of these people have put in many hours and have sacrificed their own personal time to help the team. This year is Ms. Dianna Pugh's 20th year of coaching Mock Trial! CONGRATULATIONS JUDGE MOCK TRIAL! WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER WONDERFUL SEASON NEXT YEAR!

Posted by System Administrator at 12:26pm | Link

April 11, 2006

Mock Trial Takes 1st and 3rd for the Second Year In A Row!

Before the 2006 season even started, the Mock Trial team knew they were going to have a fight on their hands. Being that Judge was last years state champions, every other high school in the state was out to try and claim the title this year. At the end of last years Mock Trial season, the participants had vowed that not only would they work hard, but they were going to claim the state championship again and send themselves to nationals which would be in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Judge Memorial Mock Trial Team has had an amazing 2006 season to say the least. The season started out with tryouts which were held in Ms. Pugh’s room. Ms. Pugh with the help of Mr. Holder had the daunting task of picking members for the team. There were so many qualified people, the school was forced to create two equally impressive teams.

Ms. Pugh made it clear from the first practice, that this year the team would need to step up its game. A goal was set to have all the materials (questions, responses, case facts) memorized and to work closely with one another. Ms. Pugh was trying to create a “well-oiled machine,” and that is just what she got.

Team A was led by Captains Mary Royal and Natalie Thorne. Members of Team A included Cristina Najarro, Emily Rizzo, Tedi Tsuruda, Alex Burkhard, Nate Hoffelmeyer, and Dane Brodke.

Team B was led by Captains Kelly O’Neill and Sierra Walton. Members of Team B included Kelly Sullivan, Laura Burchett, Allyssa Omana, Abby Nelson, Alex Highsmith, Jimin Brelsford and LeVaughn Wilkins.

The first round of competition found Team A presenting the prosecution case and competing against Orem High School and Team B presenting the defense case and competing against Skyline High School. Both teams found themselves victorious at the end of the round. Mary Royal, Kelly O’Neill, Jimin Brelsford and Laura Burchett were named Best Attorneys while Dane Brodke and Alex Highsmith were awarded Best Witness.

Round two was a reversal of the roles for Judge’s two outstanding teams. Team A was now asked to present the defense arguments and Team B the prosecution arguments. Teams A and B competed against Logan High School and the Patriots, respectively. Once again, both teams came out to a solid victory. Mary Royal, Natalie Thorne, Kelly O’Neill and Laura Burchett received Best Attorneys while Alex Highsmith and Cristina Najarro were awarded Best Witness.

Due to their wonderful performance in the first two rounds they now found themselves in first and second place in the state. It was now time for the Quarter Final Rounds. Team A was chosen to compete against Woods Cross High School and Team B against Box Elder High School. It was no surprise that once again, both Mock Trial teams came out to a victory. Mary Royal, Natalie Thorne, Kelly O’Neill and Laura Burchett were awarded Best Attorney and Alex Highsmith, Sierra Walton, LeVaughn Wilkins, Nate Hoffelmeyer and Emily Rizzo were given Best Witness. Both teams would now advance into the Semi-Finals.

By a twisted turn of fate, it ended up that in the Semi-Final rounds the two Judge Mock Trial teams were chosen to compete against each other. It was the Mock Trial match of the century. Both teams worked amazingly hard and performed to the best of their efforts that night and Team B ended up coming out victorious. Mary Royal, Emily Rizzo, Kelly O’Neill and Laura Burchett received Best Attorneys and Alex Highsmith, Sierra Walton and Dane Brodke were awarded Best Witnesses. Team A took third place in the state.

Team B would now be progressing into the finals against Layton High School. The match was amazingly close, but to continue with their winning streak Team B ended up winning the match and therefore taking the State Championship! Team B remained undefeated the entire season. Kelly O’Neill and Jimin Brelsford received Best Attorneys and Alex Highsmith, Sierra Walton and Allysa Omana received Best Witnesses.

The Mock Trial season has not yet reached its conclusion for the Judge Memorial team. Ms. Pugh has now been faced with yet another daunting task; choosing members from both teams to represent Utah in the National Mock Trial Competition which will be held from May 10-14th in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

After thorough and intense deliberations, Ms. Pugh has created the following team to represent not only Judge Memorial, but also the state of Utah at the National Competition: Seniors- Kelly O’Neill, Mary Royal, Sierra Walton; Juniors- Laura Burchett, Emily Rizzo, Alex Highsmith; Freshmen-Jimin Brelsford, LeVaughn Wilkins. We wish the National Team the best of luck and success at the National Mock Trial Competition.

The Judge Mock Trial Team would like to give a special thank you to Ms. Pugh who has dedicated so much of her time to ensure the success of the Mock Trial team. It is Ms. Pugh’s 20th year of involvement with the Mock Trial program. Another thank you goes out to Mr. Holder, Judge William Thorne, Mr. Gregg Brelsford, Mr. Brent Hall and Ms. Nicole Salazaar-Hall. “Our Mock Trial Team would not have been the amazing success it was this year without all of your help! Thank You!”

Written by Mary Royal

Posted by System Administrator at 11:18am | Link

Semifinals

This weekend both Judge Memorial’s Mock Trial teams defeated their opponents. Team A competed against Orem High School and defeated them by 45 points. Mary Royal received Best Attorney and Dane Brodke received Best Witness. Team B defeated Skyline High School by 58 points. Kelly O’Neill, Laura Burchett and Jimin Brelsford received Best Attorney and Alex Highsmith received Best Witness.

Both teams will now be moving on to compete in the next round of competition. Team A will compete against Logan High School and Team B will compete against the Patriots. We wish both our Mock Trial teams the best of luck!

Team A consists of Mary Royal (Captain) and Natalie Thorne (Captain); Emily Rizzo, Tedi Tsuruda, Dane Brodke, Nate Hoffelmeyer, Cristina Najarro and Alex Burkhard.

Team B consists of Sierra Walton (Captain) and Kelly O’Neill (Captain); Kelly Sullivan, Alex Highsmith, Jimin Brelsford, Abby Nelson, Laura Burchett, Levaughn Wilkins and Alyssa Omana.

Both Judge Mock Trial teams compete at a varsity level. They are under the instruction of Ms. Dianna Pugh, Judge William Thorne, Mr. Brent Hall, Mrs. Nicole Salazaar-Hall, Mr. Art Holder, and Mr. Gregg Brelsford.

Last year the Judge Mock Trial Team A took the State Championship and represented Utah at the National Mock Trial Competition which was held in Charlotte, North Carolina. Team B received Third Place in the State.

Written by Mary Royal, Sierra Walton and Nate Hoffelmeyer

Posted by System Administrator at 11:08am | Link