Mock Trials Kick Off In Stanley
Court is adjourned.
Nick Peterson’s senior forensics class held the first of two mock trials last Friday, Nov. 15, in the courtroom at the Mountrail County Courthouse.
Round one mock trials are complete with the following arson case.
In the dead of night, a raging inferno tore through Gordon Paint & Supplies, igniting suspicion of arson. The fire investigator zeroed in on the owner, who had recently been grappling with bankruptcy. The defendent’s alibi was undermined when a taxi driver with a vendetta reported seeing someone resembling the owner near the blaze. Meanwhile, a disgruntled ex-employee was questioned but denied any involvement. With alibis and conflicting eyewitness accounts, the spotlight falls on either a failing business owner or a bitter former employee.
For the state of North Dakota, attorneys Madilyn Hunting and Jordee Skaar called upon witnesses Halle Larson and Tawni Nohr. For the defense, attorneys Logan Neset and Avery Ellis called upon witnesses Sereiba Gauthier and Max Jackson. After a fiery and entertaining courtroom battle, the jury returned a guilty verdict.
Special thanks to the incredible judge, Amber Fiesel, and Madison Rodgers of the court of district clerk for this opportunity. Jury members consisted of Kyle DeTienne, Lane Gandrud, Barb Roise, Katy Roise, Stacey Mortensen, George Littlecreek, Aryanna Camino, Shandi Camino, Brittney Hunting, and Stacey Barstad.
The seniors spend months preparing for these trials and then coordinate with the Mountrail County States Attorney’s Office and the courts to present their trials.
The second mock trial is set for Wednesday, Nov. 20 in the courtroom.