This year, Mock Trial was brought back to Trinity Hall after a lengthy hiatus due to COVID-19. Club leaders Madeline Ferguson '26, Madeline Zink '26 and Alessandra Addeo '26 revived the club in hopes of teaching their peers about the legal system.
Within a few weeks of the club's re-establishment, members entered the Monmouth County Mock Trial Competition. For this competition, a single case is released in early November to all participating teams. The teams then spend the next few months studying and preparing to argue both sides of the civil case. For this year’s case, a dog owner was suing a corporation, Petzicon Products Inc., after her show dog passed away from the use of one of their products.
On the first day of the competition, each team argues either the plaintiff or the defense. They then argue the other side on the second day. Depending on the number of points earned on both days, the team may advance to the elimination round and beyond
The day before the competition began, the Mock Trial team was informed of which side they would be arguing. The next day, on January 28, six members of the club traveled to the Monmouth County Courthouse for the first day of competition, ready to argue on the side of the defense. With Zink ‘26 and Lucia Holt '27 as the attorneys, they defended Petzicon Products Inc. Additionally, Ferguson ‘26, Maeve Devane '26, and Audrey Lafferty '27 were witnesses who were responsible for memorizing their affidavits and preparing to be questioned by both the plaintiff and the defense.
Throughout the second day of the competition, Ferguson and Devane were the attorneys for the plaintiff. As the plaintiff, they had the burden of proving their case by a preponderance of the evidence. In simpler terms, this means they were responsible for proving to the jury that the fact in dispute is more likely than not. The witnesses for the plaintiff were played by Zink, Holt, and Shanley Avery '27.
On each day of the competition, the Monarchs competed against two experienced schools, one of which lost in the State Finals the previous year. Though discouraged at first, the team displayed resilience through their evident preparation. Although the team did not win against their competitors, they accumulated enough points to advance to the elimination round, allowing them to learn from their mistakes and apply what they learned from their prior experiences.
On February 4, against all odds, the Monarchs won against a tough competitor, placing them further into the competition. The team participated in the quarterfinals but lost by a narrow margin. The true victory of the competition was the team empowerment gained by all young women in the courtroom. Each participant spoke with confidence, despite their intimidating competition.
"I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to coach Trinity Hall's mock trial team! The competition itself is a grind–there is a lot of preparation and time spent in the courtroom itself advocating for your side. I am immensely proud of the way our girls rose to the challenge and set a standard for Mock Trial Monarchs for years to come," said club supervisor and teacher Michael Santos.
Students who participated in the competition had a gratifying experience that was filled with vital real-world lessons, such as time management skills in preparation for the event and the importance of self-confidence, even when students were intimidated. Although this was the first time since the pandemic that Trinity Hall had entered the Mock Trial Competition, students faced the challenge with a positive attitude and drive to do the best they could in a pressure-filled environment.
“I learned so much in Mock Trial through both observing others in court, as well as through collaborating with my peers to make quick decisions. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and can’t wait to see the club grow in years to come!” said Holt.
Trinity Hall's reentrance into the Mock Trial world was a success, and this year was only the beginning of the club’s legacy. Congratulations to all who competed!