Some last minute mock trial practices, a few looks over the script, a couple of deep breaths, and then they were off! On February 27th, the Curtis Mock Trial team set out, like many other high schools in the New York area, to Borough Hall located in Court Street, Brooklyn, where they were expected to play out the case they’ve been practicing for over two months. The waiting room filled with anticipation, determination, and nervousness as each team chatted, laughed, and discussed the case they were soon to debate over. Grace Olumide, a sophomore but novice on the team was pretty anxious,“Yes, I was nervous going in front of a court and lawyer is very nerve wrecking and playing a part that you’re not,” said Olumide.

In “New York Vs. Penn HydraGas”, the case that each team had to play out in the Mock Trial competition, one school would play the defendant while the other school played the prosecution side. The Defendant, Penn HydraGas, had been accused by the prosecution of using illegal drilling fluid. Causing a harmful chemical known as  Benzene to leak into the drinking water of farmer Mickie McDonald’s home, causing harm to his family, farm, and himself.

The case may sound pretty clear cut, but it wasn’t, each side had loopholes to their story thus making it a challenge to prove why they were innocent while the other side was guilty. Julia Luppino, who played lawyer for the defense thought that the most challenging part of the case was objecting. “When you make objections you need to think on your feet, said Lupino.

To give them a better understanding of the law the mock trial team had the privilege to work with real lawyers, one of them Mr. Berlin. The team has been practicing since December and didn’t stop until the day before the competition. Every Thursday in the law room, class 307, the team gathered from 10th period until around 5:30 p.m. to study their script, and get into their characters for the trial. Zene Ezell, a sophomore who has been involved in Mock Trial for two years and played the lawyer for defense had mixed feelings about the practice.  “I don’t really practice because when I try to practice too hard, that’s when I start to forget everything,” said Ezell.

The Curtis Mock Trial team was beaten by James Madison with Madison playing the prosecution and Curtis playing the defense.  However, the team’s success is not determined by its wins or losses; instead it is about the score, which is based on how well the team executed its side of the case.  Although the scores haven’t been released yet, the Curtis High School Mock Trial team still has its fingers crossed. Ms. Aversa, who has been involved with the Mock Trial team (along with Ms. Rokicki), since 2004 said that every year there is something new and everyone has fun. But when competing Ms. Aversa said, “I’m always nervous when students compete because I want them to do well and also enjoy themselves.”