Mock trial judge, Joseph N. Camacho, poses with mock trial teams from Mount Carmel (left) and Hopwood Junior High School at the conclusion of their trial.
Seven schools fielding nine teams participated in the Junior High Mock Trial held on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the U.S. District Court Chamber.
These included Mount Carmel School, Hopwood Junior High School, Whispering Palms School, Rota Junior High School, Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja (Rota), Grace Chritian Academy (Rota), and Tinian Junior High School.
The program is sponsored annually by the NMI Council for the Humanities in conjunction with the National Forensic League of the Western Pacific to help junior high school students develop useful knowledge about the law and courtroom procedures in an enjoyable, non-competitive format.
The program also readies participants for the competitive mock trial program at the high school level.
Each participating mock trial team was headed by a teacher coach and received periodic legal advice and guidance from a lawyer coach. This year's case involved an alleged drug-related murder.
Former Representative and practicing attorney Joseph N. Camacho served as the judge. and recognized outstanding performances by student lawyers and witnesses.
Two teams, Mount Carmel and Whispering Palms, were recognized en mass by Judge Camacho for their excellent work.
The Mount Carmel team comprised Josie Santos, Ginny Yu, Aiyisha Roberto, Andrea Manese, Victor Cabrera and Chelsea Bartolo.
The Whispering Palms team included Christian Miller, Jake Lee, Victoria Chentsova, Miguel Dandan, Gabrielle Race, and Daniel Auther.
Other outstanding performances were turned in by Mona Manglona of Rota Juior High School; Hanukah Aquino and Yunha Seo from Tinian Junior High School; Rhea Costales, Angelique Perez and Marcel Atalig from Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja; Maeyesha Terlaje, Rizza Butalon and Karl Lacanilao from Hopwood Junior High School; and Gabrielle Gascon, Chrisha Llana and Bonnibeth Baichon from Grace Christian Academy of Rota.
A grant awarded by the Tan Siu Lin Foundation helped to cover travel costs of Rota and Tinian participants.
Read a newspaper account of this program.
A witness is sworn in.
A prosecution attorney from Hopwood Junior High School argues her case.
A prosecution witness from Tinian High School gives testimony on the stand.
Prosecution attorneys from Rota Junior High School introduce their team members to the judge.
Defense attorneys from Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja, Rota.
Defense attorneys from Whispering Palms School prepare to argue their case.
An attorney from Tinian Junior High School raises an objection.
An attorney from Grace Christian Academy, Rota, defends her client.
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