Behind the Verdict

Under the fluorescent lights of the courtroom, students step into an alternate persona. At the mercy of the judge, every word counts. 

 Winning 1st and 3rd place at regionals was no easy task. The students who participate in Jefferson Academy’s Mock Trial program worked rigorous hours to maintain growth.

“I think there are many things that led to our win: our amazing coaches [shout out Mr. Truta], our great team dynamic, and our hard work. We've been practicing since September: two and a half hours every Friday and an additional five hours every weekend since January, in addition to the work we do individually," expressed Junior Maya Nayberg.

 One of the most daunting parts of Mock Trial for many new participants is the hours-long practices on Fridays and most weekends. 

“For our two-hour practices, we typically work through any weak spots in examinations and go over our theme and theories of the case as a team. I am an attorney on my team, so I work one-on-one a lot with my witnesses during our Friday practices to make our examinations and connections stronger. For our five-hour practices, we typically run through the entire trial and are given notes as we work through it,” explained Junior Ravel LaBerge.

As the advisor and one of the coaches of Mock Trial, Mr. Truta witnessed firsthand the dedication it took to earn their victory. 

“We worked really, really hard for it. We had an outstanding group of kids. We did have some major setbacks with the senior trip, so there are a lot of kids who couldn't compete in my trial,” described Mr. Truta.

Despite the seriousness of the competition, sophomore Greta Jones reflects on her unforgettable experience winning.

“When we saw the scoreboard, we all jumped and screamed. Most of us were near tears, and were so insanely happy,” exclaimed Jones. “I had been so tired 20 minutes before, but the high of the win made every fiber in my being swell with happiness.”