Round 1, The Plaintiff

Today is Round 1 for my mostly rookie Mock Trial team. We are going up against a pretty ritzy school (read: it costs 7 times our tuition to go there....for kindergarten) and the last time we faced a school like this it was pretty stiff competition, but who knows!

We have worked super hard and the team is very bright with a strong learning curve. I have also learned a thing or two in the last three years. Our game plan is to be confident in our case and not worry about the other team.

We have been so busy we don't have many great pics, but here are a few by way of introduction.

Here is the team arguing for the Plaintiff:

The Attorneys


Jorge--senior, team captain, 3 year vet, one of my favorite people. Jorge (above in grey with witness, Kevin) joined as a sophomore and was a natural. Suspended early his sophomore year for taking down a boy twice his size in an after school fist fight, Jorge has sass. (The other kid deserved it). I wish I could tell you all the reasons why I respect and adore this boy, but suffice to say that he has battled many challenges and has grown into an intuitive leader with, dare I say it, a very nurturing heart. If I get married, he will be invited.

Rafael--senior, rookie, #2 in his class. Rafael (woops, no pic!) has (and can admit to it and discuss it intelligently) a classic Napoleonic complex. I apparently won his everlasting love when I DIDN'T report him to the Dean of Discipline his sophomore year for almost punching another student in my class for something ridiculous. When he approached me this year about whether or not he should join Mock Trial, my response was (and this is pretty much a direct quote) "Rafael, you are smart, well-spoken, almost as much of a perfectionist as me, and can be a bit of a dick when you want to--your perfect!"



Chris--junior, rookie, the surprise of the team. Chris is the only member of the team that actually signed up ON TIME for "try outs". I had Chris as a freshman and a sophomore and he NEVER opened his mouth and was not the most natural talent. Further, the juniors are NOT a class to get very involved and Chris tried out without any friends or his twin. He had me at hello. He has never missed a meeting and never NOT paid earnest attention. I love the Agnes surprises.


The Witnesses

Kevin--sophomore, rookie, army brat, 7 A's. Kevin (pictured above with Jorge) is new to Agnes this year, but he is used to being new. He lives with his aunt and uncle and cousin (who is a freshman) while his mother serves a year in Korea. Kevin has a deep baritone voice that oddly does not match his small stature and the seniors enjoy making him do fake commercial "voice overs". He is the plaintiff in the case and, despite the fact that we keep changing his questions, he is doing a great job.


Andres--sophomore, 2nd year, honors class, space cadet. Last year Andres played the part of a drunken senior, this year he has been upgraded to the class Valedictorian. At the Mock Trial meeting for teachers last year, we were given the requisite, "this is an great opportunity to talk to your students about the hazards of teenage drinking, blah, blah, blah." We just made constant jokes about Andres being soused when ever he said something ditzy. I found it very educational.


Jonathan, senior, rookie, gentle giant. Jonathan (shown here with Kevin) worked with us last year as a lawyer until a fall and a broken ankle took him out of competition. One of my favorite things is when Jonathan looks at (significantly smaller) Rafael, pats his knees like he is calling a dog and says, "Come here, Ralphy, here Ralphy" and Rafael takes a running leap DIRECTLY on to Jonathan's shoulders. If you are lucky, I will tape it and post it.

And there we have it! Wish us luck!

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UPDATE: THIS JUST IN, "STAGS CELEBRATE VICTORY OUTSIDE OF MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT"

They were AWESOME! I LOVE when people are this happy!!

Next up: Round 2, March 2nd--The Defense.

Go Stags.