EBHS Mock Trial 2014-2015

Who we are, what we do: EBHS Mock Trial is an academic team that practices to compete in the Vincent J.
Apruzzese Mock Trial Competition. Because we are a competitive team, we will hold tryouts for the twenty
spots on our team. Our teams are composed of lawyers and witnesses, divided evenly into Prosecution and
Defense. Each person will have a different role and different responsibilities: lawyers are responsible for
creating opening and closing arguments, direct examination questions, and cross examinations questions, while
witnesses are responsible for building their character, memorizing the facts in their affidavit, and preparing to
answer hostile questions on cross examination.

The case: The competition centers around a case, this year a criminal case (next year a civil case, the two
switch off every year). The case for this year is about negligence. A normal competition will play out in this
manner: first, one lawyer from each side will present their opening statements, outlining their goals for their
case. Then, one side will call its first witness, and begin with a pre-prepared direct examination, i.e. the
Defense lawyer will ask the Defense witness questions. Then, the opponents will get a chance to question the
witness, and they will ask pointed questions that will ideally force the witness to answer in a yes/no fashion.
After this procedure is repeated for every witness, each side will get a chance to deliver a closing argument, and
then the jury and judges will deliberate.
It can be found here: http://www.njsbf.org/images/content/1/1/11567.pdf

What you should be doing for tryouts: Read the case. For your witness tryout, learn the affidavit of Dalton
Fisher and be prepared to be questioned as your character. For your attorney tryout, prepare a cross
examination for Jamison Manning. This means that you will be asking that witness on the opposing side
questions to disprove their argument and help your side of the case. Everyone will be given the option of trying
out as either an attorney or witness, or both.

Help with tryouts:
Attorney Remember learn the case, know the main points you want to get out through the cross and figure
out how to get there, only ask leading questions, only bring up one new fact per question, and be assertive, not
passive nor aggressive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ0wiVM8ZTk (youtube video on cross examination with two very good
tips)
Witness Remember learn the case, know your facts, become your character, show emotion, and always give
answers that support your side by using fair extrapolation if you are asked things not in your testimony.

Important dates:
Monday 9/22 Question and answer session about tryouts (completely optional)
Tuesday 9/30, Wednesday 10/1, Thursday 10/2, Friday 10/4 Tryouts

Contact us with any questions:
Bilal Sheriff President: bilal.sheriff@gmail.com
Mr. Mondry- Advisor- mmondry@ebnet.org
Ebhsmocktrial@gmail.com