By Dean Tan ’17, News Writer

For the past 13 years, Newark Academy humanities faculty member, Mr. Hawk, has been the director of the Mock Trial program. Since he inherited the program in 2002, he has greatly developed the team since its humble beginnings. Unlike most other schools, Newark Academy runs the Mock Trial program as a club and team, not as a class. As one of the few private schools who participate in the competitions, Newark Academy has done remarkably well given its small pool of students and relatively few hours of practice (almost 60 hours short of other school’s programs), even though they meet 4 days a week.

Beginning in January, the local competitions determine the teams that progress to North Regionals. After 3 competitions in North Regionals, teams then advance to the 2 rounds of states. The competitions run in instant elimination fashion, meaning a single loss puts the team out for the entire season.

 The subject of this year’s case was Pat Reynolds, a high school student who slipped off of a wall and fell into a coma. While on a field trip, Pat felt dizzy and needed food and rest. He and his friend Avery decided to leave the room in search of food. While outside, Pat decided to take a selfie with a billboard. However, when he tried to get up onto a wall for a good angle, he stumbled, hit his head, and fell into a coma. Though the victim of a tragic accident, Pat may have been acting irresponsibly. Was Pat really in a dizzy spell, or did he and Avery try to sneak out to a college party? Was their chaperone, Mr. Dalton Fischer, acting responsibly for the care of his students? These questions, among others, were disputed in the courtroom in Pat’s parents’s lawsuit against the chaperone, school, and school district. 

This year, the Mock Trial team was the winner of the Essex county championships, their 6^th consecutive claim to the title. However, they lost in the semifinals of the regionals against rival school Mendham, who has beaten them for the past 3 years. When asked about the final season performance, Hawk said “they were brilliant. It was the strongest team we’ve had yet; let’s put it that way. They each had real strengths. They were just terrific.” He expressed a strong sense of confidence for the future as well, seen in the prepping for next year’s case that has already begun.

Judge Leo Gordon, a graduate of Newark Academy, has also been an integral part of the program for the past 7 years. As one of the justices of the United States Court of International Trade, Mr. Gordon has much experience and has given much of his time for the benefit of the team.

Elizabeth Peinado ’15, a senior lawyer, has been with the program for 4 years. In her 1^st year, she was a witness, and for the past 3 years she has been a lawyer. This year, she was a plaintiff lawyer, representing Payton Reynolds in his lawsuit against Dalton Fischer and the Smithville school district. As one of the senior members of the team, Betsy was immensely proud of how they performed this year, considering this year’s team the strongest so far. Peinado credits her passions for the program to her older brother Sam, who introduced her to Mock Trial while he was a member. Though she did not like public speaking, acting, or law at first, she has learned invaluable life skills and hopes to continue in college.

Alec Rubman ’16 joined the program this year. He was a witness, one of three, representing the plaintiff. Rubman attributes success so far in the program to Peinado, who encouraged him to try out for the team. Even as a first-year member, Alec enjoys Mock Trial very much and is looking to continue next year. 

Though it is undoubtedly a very rigorous and competitive program, the Mock Trial team welcomes anyone at all interested in participating. It’s an activity for people who want more than just menial schoolwork. It’s a team of closely-knit students and teachers who share the same passion. It’s a pathway with great depth towards meaningful careers, whether it be in law, acting, or public speaking. While it may not be for everyone, it certainly has great dividends for those who participate.