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Mock trial competition today
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Posted on Mar 02 2012
The CNMI Bar Association, with assistance from the Judiciary, is hosting the 2012 CNMI High School Mock Trial Competition today, March 2, at the Guma Hustisia in Susupe. The competition’s first round begins at 8:30am, with the finals to start at 5:15pm.
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. This year, the mock problem is the criminal fictitious case of the Commonwealth of the Pacific Islands v. Sam Haggan. Each participating school receives the fictitious case file complete with witness statements, exhibits, rules of evidence, and an abbreviated law library. Teams comprising six to 10 students have spent months practicing with the assistance of their volunteer attorney and teacher coaches to prepare for the competition.
During the 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 judges and attorneys serve as the presiding judges and jurors/evaluators. The public is welcome to attend.
The winning team will travel to Albuquerque New Mexico in May to represent the CNMI at the 29th annual National High School Mock Trial Competition. Marianas Baptist Academy is the CNMI defending champion this year. (PR)
