Mock Trial Wraps Up Successful Season
by Ava Drozd, Shadow Staff Writer
Mock Trial Team pictured from left to right- Tyger Dobson, Beth Vallies, Savannah Bentley, Logan Conner,
Neva Polito, Lauren Knapp, Zoey Smith, Chloe Bishop, Sharrae Keeder, and Trent Hoover
The Punxsutawney Area High School’s Mock Trial Team just wrapped up another successful season. Mock Trial is an opportunity that gives students a way to develop an understanding of our legal system as well as potential career opportunities that come with it.
Students on the Punxsutawney team include Savannah Bentley, Chloe Bishop, Logan Conner, Tyger Dobson, Trent Hoover, Sharrae Keeder, Lauren Knapp, Madison Momyer, Nevā Polito, Zoey Smith, and Beth Vallies.
Mock Trial teams are required to have a teacher advisor and deeply encouraged to have an attorney advisor. PAHS luckily has both, their teacher advisor, Ms. McMeekin, and their attorney advisor, Franklin Stockdale.
McMeekin is the French teacher at PAHS and has been teaching for eleven years. She helps the students in assessing details from files, organizing thoughts, and delivering their information.
Having an attorney advisor is especially helpful, as it helps strengthens the students' knowledge with courtroom procedures, legal strategy, and rules of evidence. Stockdale has had previous experience on a mock trial team.
“Having someone with experience in both realms, helps meet the expectations of a mock trial competition,” says McMeekin.
The team meets about five hours after school a week. This includes preparing for their yearly mock case, as well as learning about the legal system.
McMeekin says “I love seeing the collaboration that comes from being a part of Mock Trial.”
This year’s Mock Trial case involved proving and defending against “grand larceny,” (theft of personal property, having a value above a legally specified amount). The team then had to learn of the elements required to prove grand larceny and had to address the burden of proof that the prosecution holds in such a case.
During this case, prosecution representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, had to prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" that the defendant was guilty. Mock Trial also requires each witness to be questioned, and each attorney to question one witness from their team and one from the other team. Focusing on discrediting or showing bias/prejudice from the opposing sides witness.
The PAHS Mock Trial has completed their season, finishing their two district competitions. At each competition, the opposing team selects a “best attorney” and “best witness” from the opposing team, based on who they think had the best performance at the competition.
Students Nevā Polito, and Beth Vallies were rightfully awarded “Best Attorney,” and Savannah Bentley was awarded “Best Witness,” at both competitions.
“These are skills that apply beyond the courtroom setting and why I recommend that more students should give Mock Trial a try. It's a challenging and fun way to grow these skills, while also learning about our legal system and the career opportunities associated with it” says McMeekin.
Though the 2025 season for the Mock Trial Team is now over, they plan on continuing their success throughout future years.