This winter, Golda Och students participated in an annual Mock Trial competition at the Essex County Courthouse.
Although the team placed ninth overall, just shy of the top eight that advanced, it was an extraordinary achievement for Golda Och.
Junior Paul Raskin said, “I think that being a juror during a mock trial was very powerful because I had the opportunity to watch practically real lawyers and a real court case in action. I truly thought Golda Och would take the win home, but a loss by one point is still incredible.”
The prosecution team had its first competition against Montclair High School.
The competition was intense, with each attorney doing their best to prove their case. In the end, despite their best efforts, the prosecution lost by only one point, with a final score of 125 (GOA) – 126 (MHS).
Soon after, the defense team faced Livingston High School.
Junior Violet Berman said, “GOA’s Mock Trial team has definitely improved from previous years. I had a lot of fun because the case was very interesting.”
Over the course of its season, Mock Trial gives students a faux court case, upon which they spend months creating and practicing arguments. After preparing their cases, one for defense and one for prosecution, each school’s team competes against each other.
This year’s case centered around a defendant, Devon Ransom, who was accused of making a false public alarm call targeting a coffee shop as revenge against his former friend, Schuyler, with whom he used to game.
“It was a complex case with many important and difficult details to remember, but because of the team’s hard work and continuous practice, we were able to perform very well,” said paralegal Elizabeth Allen.
The prosecution was led by juniors Mia Eskin and Sagan Shapiro, who acted as the team’s attorneys, while the defense was led by juniors Alma Adiel and Noah Stoch.
Junior Sagan Shapiro said, “Being an attorney for a mock trial is so much fun. Getting to closely study a case, carefully build an argument and learn how to speak in front of a jury were all experiences I wouldn’t pass over for anything.”
Each side also included three student witnesses. The prosecution witnesses were played by freshman Tamar Ashkenazi, sophomore Noah Cytrynbaum and junior Liora Goldberg, while the defense witnesses were portrayed by juniors Violet Berman and Dov Brown and freshman Hazel Kestin.
Sophomore Noah Cytrynbaum said, “I really enjoyed being up on the stand. Giving my character’s testimony and arguing for his credibility was exciting and high stakes, and I liked that it was really to help the attorneys who worked so hard.”
In the end the championship went to Newark Academy, which narrowly edged out Golda Och in the starting rounds.
This is Newark’s fourth county title in the past 5 years, and the team will now be competing at the Newark Municipal Court.
Despite the loss, members of the Golda Och mock trial team are extremely proud of their hard work and are confident they can contend for the championship in the coming years.
