The Williamsville East Mock Trial team won its first case acting as the defense in the case People of the State of New York vs. Penn HydraGas, Inc., and Mitchell Tomley on Saturday, February 1, against St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute at the University of Buffalo. Captains Daniel Franasiak and Angelica Criden acted as attorneys alongside freshman Madison Irene, and showed off their quick-thinking and adaptability while making objections during their respective witnesses’ Cross Examinations and their massive preparation attempts while Direct Examining their own witnesses.
Witnesses for their first case included senior Alicia Stepinewski and freshmen Connor McLaughlin, and Aaron Antonson. The students rigorously prepared for the event with near-daily practice sessions in order to comprehend the complicated technicalities of their case which revolved around hydraulic fracking.
The Mock Trial competition typically consists of four parts– the Opening Statement, given by an attorney from each side, the Direct Examinations of each witness (which is a prepared statement akin to telling one’s story), the Cross Examinations of each witness (which are unprepared and done by the opposing counsel in order to crack apart the witness’s testimony), and the Closing Statement given by both sides. The competitions are won in two parts: the score, which is determined by the poise and preparation by attorneys and their objections, and the case, which is determined by which side the judge thinks would actually win in a real courtroom. It is quite commonplace for a team to lose the case, but win more points than the other team, propelling them to the next round of competition.
The Mock Trial team is up against Charter School 8 from the City of Buffalo on February 8, and if they win this round as well, they may be able to partake in the next round which is set to happen in March.
