Mock Trial Club takes it to the bench

Mock Trial Club members competed in late February at the district tournament, reports Club Advisor Richard Truax, a Garfield social studies teacher. Our teams are always at a disadvantage, as many schools have Mock Trial as a class that meets 5 days a week.

Despite that, they did an amazing job, Mr. Truax says.

Mock Trial is a bit like Improv Theater. Participants rehearse a role, questions to ask and how to respond based on a case. Mr. Truax notes that, once in court, the students have to contend with another team that has its own questions and objections.  The big challenge is how does one respond. 

Congratulations to two Garfield students who placed the equivalent of third (out of 34 competitors):

• Freshman Miranda Reskusich-White (Nominee for Best Lawyer)
• Senior Ibrahim Coker (Nominee for Best Witness)

Mr. Truax also wants to call out the performance of Senior Ulali Adams as a prosecutor, vs. an O’Dea High School defense team. After enduring a barrage of objections, Ulali came back to conduct an amazing cross-examination while handling another string of objections, Mr. Truax notes. Both the judge and jury (local lawyers), complimented her afterward. 

Bulldog4Life alert!: The judge in one of the Defense Trials was King County Superior Court Judge Averil Rothrock, Garfield Class of 1987.  She later spoke with the GHS team.

• Learn more about Mock Trial Club, on Instagram.