One of the hardest parts of participating in a mock trial is having to come up with responses in seconds using minimal notes and lots of memorized information, said sophomore Camryn Temme, a witness on the defense side for Baldwin’s mock trial team. 

“You have to memorize the objection because you have less than five seconds to object,” she said.

Junior Logan Breisinger, another defense attorney, agreed. He said that it’s interesting just how much work and research goes into the case, which is part of the statewide mock trial competition. 

“I’ve probably read the statements 10 times, and each time I go through, I find something new that I need,” he said. 

Tackling a 96-page packet filled with information, the Baldwin mock trial team is preparing to face off against other Pennsylvania high schools in February. Senior Violet Kearny said students have been provided a hypothetical case that simulates the format of a real trial. 

“We were given a case with all the information that we need to utilize to develop questions, statements, and objections to try and make an argument against the other side,” she said. 

The case is based on a fictional medical malpractice scenario in which a mother is suing a doctor over neglectence of her sick daughter. There are 12 students in the competition, split into two groups of six, which will compete on different days in separate trials. 

One group will represent the defense and the other will represent the plaintiff. Each group has three witnesses and three attorneys, Temme said.

Kearny has the role of an attorney on the plaintiff side. She and the other students on her side will go against another school and try to gain points through their opening statement, direct examination, cross-examination, and closing statements. 

“We are scored based on how well we do on each section,” Kearney said. 

At the end of the trial, one student will be named “best attorney,” gifted teacher Krystal Schulte said. The winning team also will move on to a bigger competition, Temme said.

The team comes together to practice twice a week during Highlander Time, where they work on researching the case and coming up with questions for each other. Temme said that during the trial, they will mostly be graded on “how well (they) know the case,” so the research plays a crucial role. 

A portion of their preparations focuses on working together with other students. Breisinger said he works closely with sophomore Annjal Parajuli. 

“We have to work to make sure we have a good story to tell,” he said. “With him being my witness, we have to know almost exactly what we want to say to each other for the competition.”

The Highlander Time sessions help students prepare for what they will face during the trial, Temme said. 

“We go through the questions that we’re going to ask the opposing witnesses. Sometimes we do the defense and the plaintiffs asking us questions like the opposing team,” Temme said.

It has been almost a decade since Baldwin has had a mock trial team. Schulte said they decided to bring it back because of student interest.

“I think historically we have had a lot of students interested in debate and we have a lot of kids who are interested in being lawyers,” she said.

Mock trial director and gifted coordinator Kathleen Deemer said she saw interest in students this year, so they offered the opportunity to students through the gifted program.  

“I thought it would be beneficial to gifted kids, and there was interest in a new humanities extension activity,” she said. 

Deemer said it is a good opportunity to engage students who are interested in law as a future career.

An attorney advisor, Lynne Jaworski, came in to help students develop questions and walk through the trial process. Jaworski said that the mock trial is a good way of getting students comfortable with public speaking, and it prepares them if they are looking to pursue law. 

She said she is there to help observe the process and provide tips to the students. 

“I provide advice about trial skills and how to address evidentiary issues and how to move around in a courtroom, skills that every lawyer wants to have,” Jaworski said 

She said working with Baldwin has been a beneficial way for her to impact the community as a young lawyer.

“I think it is important for young women to get into the law field,” she said. “It’s very important that we have young people who want to engage in the law, and I was hoping that I could encourage kids in high school to take part in the law and get a taste of what it might be like to be a trial attorney.”

Kearney said she wants to pursue family law in the future and found it interesting that the students were able to meet Jaworski.

“She gives really good advice, and she has good input on our case,” Kearney said. “It is really fun working with her.”

Jaworski said that participating in mock trial is beneficial for anyone, especially those who have any interest in law. She said it is a great way to get real-world experience in the courtroom to become a better lawyer in the future.

“I never did mock trial throughout my education, and I regret it. I think that one of the biggest benefits is becoming comfortable in a courtroom setting,” she said. “Most of the time when you are in a courtroom, it can be very unpleasant and intimidating and scary — especially the first few times. I think it is very important for people to have experience moving around a courtroom and being around a judge to reduce the intimidation they feel.”

Although Breisinger isn’t interested in pursuing law, he said he would participate again if the program continues in future years.

“It would definitely be easier to get started with some prior experience,” he said.