From the English Hall to the courtrooms of Santa Ana, Fountain Valley’s Mock Trial team is a thing to fear, respect, and ultimately be proud of. Mock Trial spends anywhere from six to nine hours each week meeting as a team after school in preparation for competition, often staying until nightfall before calling it a day.
The team’s was originally made up of 24 members, consisting of attorneys, witnesses, a bailiff, a court clerk, and recently, a videographer. This year, Mock Trial decided to do something new – in addition to the original team, three court artists and a court journalist were added. I am that court journalist.
I’ve long been familiar with our school’s Mock Trial team, but it wasn’t until this year that I decided that I wanted to get involved in some way. While I held my love for writing in one hand, I opened the door to Room 131 with my other and entered the world of FVHS Mock Trial.
Despite the fact that I wasn’t an actual competitor and therefore wasn’t able to go through the complete Mock Trial Experience, I still got a big enough bite to experience all of the different flavors and spices which come as a part of the job.
As a court journalist, I am tasked with the job of reporting on the trials in which our team competes. Although the job may seem easy on paper, in reality it is anything but. After each trial is crunch time, having until 5:00 p.m. the following day to submit the article for the round to be judged by professional journalists.
Spectating the trials is actually surprisingly fun – I find that watching the attorneys match wits on the floor with their metaphorical swords and shields is just as fun as if they were using actual swords and shields, while witnesses fight just as hard to make life as difficult as possible for opposing attorneys.
Unfortunately, there are a few saddening aspects. First, trials can last anywhere from two to three hours. Second, one is required to wear formal attire, which in my case includes foot-crunching dress shoes and a noose-like tie. The third, and perhaps saddest, is that as a journalist, it is my responsibility to takes notes on the entirety of the trial.
Of course, in the end, it is difficult not to feel at least somewhat proud. It is obvious that our Mock Trial team puts in a lot of hard work and preparation, and in the end, in the courtroom, when it all comes together, it is obvious just how hard Mock Trial has worked.
Having been able to personally experience it first-hand this year has been quite an honor, and an enjoyable pleasure, and I know that without a doubt, I would do it again in a heartbeat.
