The 2009 Mock Trial Case
MOCK TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF CNMI
THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS,
Prosecution.
v.
Kelley Abogado
Defendant.
NOTE: All characters, names, events, places, and circumstances in this mock trial case are fictitious.
A
PROJECT COORDINATED BY THE
CNMI BAR ASSOCIATION
2009 MOCK TRIAL COORDINATOR
Karen Klaver
The 2009 CNMI High School Mock Trial Competition will be held on
March 6th and 7th, 2009
at the Guma Hustisia/ Iimwal Aweewe/ House of Justice in Susupe, Saipan
Hafa Adai and welcome to the 11th season of High School Mock Trial in the CNMI! The CNMI High School Mock Trial competition was started in 1999 by the CNMI Bar Association and former Justice Ramon Villagomez as a way to introduce high school students to the justice system.
For the past 11 years teams from the CNMI’s public and private high schools have participated in the CNMI High School Mock Trial Competition. Teams comprising of 6-8 students are coached by volunteer attorneys and teachers to prepare the case materials for the competition. This year, the mock problem is the criminal fictitious case of CNMI v. Kelley Abogado. Students will portray the role of attorneys and witnesses and must present both sides of the case as the prosecution and defense. At the competition, the students will be judged based on their knowledge of the evidence, and ability to present a logical and persuasive case. CNMI Judges and attorneys serve as the presiding judges and jurors/ evaluators.
The goals of the competition are: to promote and further the understanding and appreciation of the judicial system, court procedures and the legal system; to promote better communication and cooperation between the legal and educational communities; to improve awareness of current social and legal issues; and to provide an educational event to support students of all abilities and varying interest.
The time and number of rounds will depend on the number of teams competing. The tentative schedule for the competition will be as follows:
| Friday, March 6: | Round 1 to begin at 9:00 a.m. |
|---|---|
| Round 2 to begin at 12:00 Noon | |
| Round 3 to begin at 3:00 p.m. | |
| Saturday, March 7: | Round 4 to begin at 8:30 a.m. |
| Championship Round to begin at 12:00 Noon |
If you would like to volunteer or have any questions, or comments, you may contact the mock trial committee at klaverk@pss.cnmi.mp. Thank you and Si Yu’us Ma’ase for your continued support!
Resources for the 2009 Mock Trial Case:
(Please note that all resources are in PDF format)
Specific Trial Documents:
2009 Mock Trial Problem
Exhibits -set 1
Exhibits - set 2
Rules, Regulations, Procedures, etc...:
Federal Rules of Evidence
Rules (updated for 2009)
Basic Trial
Procedures
Ethics, Preparation,
and general procedures
Teacher-Coach
Guidelines
Student Acting
Guide