It was hot inside the courtroom, especially considering it was sub 20 degrees fahrenheit outside, and beginning to flurry. I was in the proper attorney attire, pantsuit and all. My outfit did not feel too uncomfortable before I got in the courtroom, but as I looked upon the daunting judge’s stand and the formidable other team, my blazer began to feel suffocating. 

We had been preparing for this throughout the entire school year. Every week on Wednesdays during late lunch and flex period, the mock trial team worked tirelessly on our case. The case was a civil one: Capella v. Petzicon Products Inc. In the case, a dog owner was suing a pet product company for making a product that she believes to have killed her dog. At first glance, the case seemed relatively simple, and a little frivolous. However, upon inspection, it was clear that we needed to dig deep to find holes in the other side’s case. 

One of the reasons that mock trial requires so much careful preparation is because each team needs to field both a plaintiff and a defense. I was an attorney for the defense, defending Petzicon Products. My partner, Alli Spencer ‘28,  and I prepared and read opening and closing speeches, directly questioned our own witnesses, cross examined the other side’s witnesses, and of course, made objections when necessary. 

After we read and studied the case, our defense team was able to find holes in the plaintiff’s case that we could exploit in court. Why was there no necropsy (an autopsy of an animal) performed? Did Miss Capella misuse the product? Was the product expired? These were all questions that we carefully built our case against the plaintiff on prior to the trial. 

Our preparation did not end once we had reviewed the plaintiff’s case, however. Not only did we have to build a case against the plaintiff, but also we had to build a solid case for our own witnesses. We achieved this through creating strong direct examination questions to ask our three witnesses and working to prepare witnesses against any tough cross examination questions. 

As a first year attorney, and a first year participant in mock trial all together, I was nervous stepping into the courtroom. To calm my nerves I remembered all of the hard work that I (and the entire club) had put in to reach this point. Everyone had worked so hard: the witnesses had attentively memorized their affidavits, my partner and I had diligently written and practiced our speeches, and all other members of the club had contributed to help craft our arguments to the strongest that it could be. Win or lose, I was so proud of the work that I and my peers had put in together. 

With all of that in mind, I pushed my nerves aside and stood up to address the jury. After one final look at the judge, jury, and my club mates, I began my opening speech.