As Erin Rietzke approaches the front of a courtroom face to face with a judge, all eyes lock on her, leaving no room for hesitation and demanding utmost composure. While this may sound intimidating, it is no revelation for Mock Trial students, with months of meticulous research, practice, and memorization amounting to this defining moment. 

Mock Trial is a tournament style competition where high school students can assume the role of either a witness or attorney in a simulated courtroom trial. 

At the competitions, teams present their arguments in front of real judges and are scored on their presentation and legal skills. Up until competition, members are given a fictional legal case,

and under the guidance of attorney coaches and teachers, work as a team to analyze the facts of the case, decide trial strategy, and formulate arguments. 

Mock Trial is one of the many after-school clubs offered at Mount. But what students at Mount don’t see is the level of dedication behind the scenes, building up to that moment of standing in front of the judges.

“Mock Trial is not a simple hour-a-week club. It’s a committed team activity that requires real work and dedication,” Mock Trial Coach Mr. Robert Rowan said.

Mount’s Mock Trial team had met twice a week since September. They participated in preliminary competitions like the University of Pennsylvania’s Ben Franklin Invitational and LaSalle University’s Blue & Gold Invitational Tournament  throughout this time to get ready for competition season. 

After school meetings include students with the role of attorney conducting their direct and cross examinations on the students portraying a witness in the case. 

“During practices, attorneys are constantly changing their questions based on how the witness answers,” Erin Rietzke ‘27 said. “And as a witness you have to stay in character and be ready for anything they throw at you.”

However, in order to completely embody their roles, students must work independently outside of scheduled meetings.

“A lot of people think it’s just showing up twice a week, but most of the work actually happens outside of that,” Maggie Sneed ‘27 said. “You have to be willing to put in time on your own if you want to really understand the case.”

Although Mock Trial requires a considerable time commitment, its demands are actually what sets it apart from other activities. Coaches emphasize that this experience provides students with lasting benefits.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it. You gain skills here that you don’t get from many other activities,” Mock Trial Coach Ms. Bethann Leaming said.  

Mrs. Leaming is the attorney advisor for Mount’s Mock Trial team and uses her legal expertise to assist students in trial practice and procedure. 

Through her years of coaching, she has seen how the program enables students to think in a way that isn’t evoked in a traditional classroom.

“I really enjoy the different way of thinking, learning how to think in a completely analytical manner, as opposed to memorization often associated with traditional academics,” she said.

Other students say the skills they have taken with them extend beyond the courtroom and into real world experiences.

Erin Rietzkie ‘27 said, “Throughout the season, I learned how to think on the spot when presenting arguments to judges at competitions, and by the end I became way more confident in my public speaking in general”

Although the season ended earlier than the team would’ve liked, coaches say the visible growth this season was success in itself.

“What we saw this season — even though we would have liked to go further — was commitment, dedication and a lot of learning. We had a really young team that didn’t have much experience, and we still finished with a winning record,” Rowan said.

Rowan, a new coach for the Mount team, brings varied experience from his work in the Mock Trial World, working with programs like Roman Catholic and Archbishop Wood. His addition has played a significant role in the team’s development this season.

Rowan said his experience in Mock Trial has influenced his approach to building the team.

“I’ve been involved in Mock Trial for a long time, and I think what I can bring is a new perspective. It’s not just about being smart; success comes from dedication and hard work.”

As the program continues to grow, coaches hope the team’s growth this season will continue into next season and contribute to future success. But for some students, success doesn’t come from the competition itself, it’s when all of their hard work and growth over the season comes to light. 

“Standing in front of a judge used to feel intimidating,” Maggie Sneed 27’ said. “Now it’s just rewarding like all of the work we put in finally comes together in that one moment.”