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NGHS Mock Trial’s 20th appearance in the Regional State Tourney
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Front row, from left: Dylan Fritz, Sam Copeland, Jayce Ace, Emma Mondloch and Kira Whisler. Back row, from left: Logan Schultz, Trenton Hendrickson, Nolan Belknap, Amalia Morrison, Camryn Arnett, Abigail Biank and Samantha Erb. Not pictured: Cooper Julien, Melanie Fink, Lola Endicott and Madeline Thoemke.

NEW GLARUS — The New Glarus High School Mock Trial team will compete in its 20th mock trial tournament on Saturday, Feb. 4.  

The students master a manual with over 90 pages of evidentiary rules and trial procedures, and another 68 pages of witness statements, exhibits and legal standards before they compete against teams from across southern Wisconsin.  They assume roles as either lawyers, presenting the case and making arguments, or as witnesses, who must make a convincing presentation of their facts and answer cross examination questions from opposing attorneys from other schools. A panel of three judges decides on points for performance and knowledge which determines which side “wins” that trial.

This year’s fictional case is a criminal case involving a first-degree murder conviction by Maple Mattox, the defendant. The prosecution is accusing Maple Mattox of intentionally killing Tam a fellow classmate by pushing her off a cliff to get revenge for a scholarship Maple lost due to Tam reporting Maple for cheating. Maple claims that the death was completely accidental, and Tam was there because of a mystery surrounding the cliff and the potential of a monetary reward. 

Is Maple guilty of first-degree murder or was this a tragic accident? This fictional case will be debated by the prosecution side and by the defense side. Representing the prosecution as lawyers are Samantha Erb, Nolan Belknap, Cooper Julien, Melanie Fink, and Logan Schultz and the following as witnesses: Peyton Cruz portrayed by Sam Copeland; Shaun Penn portrayed by Lola Endicott, and Randy Rick portrayed by Dylan Fritz. Representing the defense as lawyers are Trenton Hendrickson, Abigail Biank, and Jayce Ace and the following as witnesses: Maple Mattox portrayed by Madeline Thoemke and Emma Mondloch; Connor Bagley portrayed by Camryn Arnett and Amalia Morrison, and Fran Flick portrayed by Kira Whisler.

The Regional Tournament will include four trials starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison. Details about the competition can be found on the Wisconsin State Bar Association’s website.

As part of their preparation for the Regional Tournament the team participated in a scrimmage with River Valley and Reedsburg at the Green County Courthouse. Justice Vale, Justice Philipson, and Attorney Dan Gartke provided valuable feedback on how the team performed. The New Glarus Mock Trial also held an exhibition of the trial in the high school library on Wednesday, Jan. 18 to showcase the work they have completed through the year. Final preparation for the Regional Competition took place as the team participated at Brookfield Academy Mock Trial Scrimmage with 30 other teams throughout the state. 

The New Glarus Mock Trial team is coached by New Glarus High School teacher Lexa Speth, and attorneys Jessica Garrity and Katy Lounsbury. The team is further supported by generous financial donations from the Green County Bar Association and the Bank of New Glarus.

The State Bar of Wisconsin has been running the Mock Trial program for over 31 years.  Monroe’s own Rodney Kittlesen was one of the original founders of the program.  In that time, many thousands of Wisconsin high school students have benefited from the rigors of preparing and trying realistic cases. It is part of the Bar’s public education program.