Mock trial competition this Friday

Defending champion Mt. Carmel School. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The CNMI Bar Association, together with the Commonwealth Judiciary, is hosting the 2014 CNMI High School Mock Trial Competition on Friday, March 7, 2014, at the Guma Hustisia in Susupe, Saipan. The competition’s first round will begin at 8:30am with the finals to occur at 4:30pm.

Mock trial is a scholastic competition between both public and private schools throughout the CNMI. The CNMI High School Mock Trial competition was started in 1999 by the CNMI Bar Association and former justice Ramon Villagomez as a way to introduce high school students to the justice system. Each participating school receives a fictitious case file complete with witness statements, exhibits, rules of evidence, and an abbreviated law library. Teams comprising of 7-14 students have spent months practicing with the assistance of their volunteer attorney and teacher coaches to prepare for the competition.

This year’s problem is a criminal case, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands vs. Erin Napu. The case involves a first degree murder trial in the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands in the fictional county of Anatahan. The defendant, Erin Napu, admits to shooting her husband, J.R. Satdinas, but claims she acted in self-defense to protect herself from Satdinas.

During the mock trial competition, students will portray the role of attorneys and witnesses and must present both sides of the case as the plaintiff and defense. The students will be judged based on their knowledge of the evidence and ability to present a logical and persuasive case. CNMI justices, judges, and attorneys serve as presiding judges and jurors/evaluators. The public is welcome to attend.

The goals of the competition are to promote and further the understanding and appreciation of the judicial system, court procedures and the legal system; to promote better communication and cooperation between the legal and educational communities; to improve awareness of current social and legal issues; and to provide an educational event to support students of all abilities and varying interests.

The winning team will travel to Madison, Wisconsin, in May to represent the CNMI at the 31st annual National High School Mock Trial Competition. Mt. Carmel School is the CNMI’s defending champion this year. (NMI Judiciary)