JHS Mock Trial team makes its case

Like most events that were scheduled for Friday, Jan. 5, a rather unique court case that was to be heard beginning at 12:30 p.m. inside the Johnston Municipal Court House was postponed because of a snowstorm.

But the trial, which was to have been presided over by Attorney and Judge Jacqueline Grasso, was no ordinary court case.

Instead, it was a competition of sorts – a Mock Trial – featuring the skills of students from Johnston and Bishop Hendricken High Schools, two of 23 Rhode Island schools that are participating in three preliminary rounds leading to the finals.

The JHS Mock Trial Team, which has a record of 1-1 to date and ranked in ninth place going into the event versus Bishop Hendricken, is coached by teachers Anna Pacheco and Marion DiLeonardo who receive help and valuable assistance in a number of different areas from Grasso, who has her own law office on Atwood Avenue and is the Auxiliary Judge of the Johnston Municipal Court.

Pacheco, who teaches math at JHS or DiLeonardo, a science teacher, have not as yet received a make-up date for he Mock Trial but told the Sun Rise “this year’s competition revolves around the timely topic of a cyber bullying case.

She said the JHS Mock Trial Team consists of 13 students who each participate in different roles. Lauren Messa, a junior who has been on the team since her freshman year, is this year’s team captain.

JHS seniors who make up this year’s Mock Trial Team include Co-Captain Yuvia Morales, Philip Jessop and Lauren Civetti while juniors who are enjoying their preparation for upcoming competitions are Ivan Fernandez, Zachary Zambarano, Sara Mendez and Jared Curci.

“We also have three sophomores, Joseph Johnson, Layla Jennings and Jeweleana-Rac Lariviere, on the team,” Pacheco said. “Freshman Olaitan Olagundoye and Derek Papa complete our roster.”

Pacheco explained that schools are scored by attorneys who award points for knowledge of the case and of the law but also for performance.

The Rhode Island Legal Education Foundation, formerly known as RILEP, has produced the Mock Trial tournament since 1984 and is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit agency chartered in 2017 as an alliance of legal and educational professionals committed to promoting a public understanding of the law and legal process through law-related and civic education.