Mock Trial Breaks into Top 8 with Verdict Over Brooklyn Tech
The Mock Trial Team poses outside the Brooklyn Court House after their first win against FDR. Photo: Mock Trial Team
By MUEEZ MANZOOR and JONATHAN LI
Midwood's Mock Trial is on a roll! Placing in the top eight of all NYC schools in back-to-back years, the team has outdone themselves, with one of their best performances in recent memory.
Mock Trial acts out theoretical cases, with teams organized in the sense of a traditional court, with three lawyers and three witnesses on each side.
This year's case is about the prosecution of two people accused of stealing used cooking oil from restaurants. The two have been charged with three crimes: resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, and petit larceny (theft under $1,000). But in order for them to be convicted, the prosecution needs convincing evidence that they committed these crimes; meanwhile, the defense searches for alibis to prove their innocence.
Wania Zahid ‘28 plays a witness named Terry Johnson. Her role is to work with the defensive team who cross-examines her character so they can present points to weaken the prosecution’s argument.
Both sides are given ten minutes for lawyers to complete a cross examination of their witnesses, and then another ten minutes for the opposing witnesses. The tournament takes place in actual courtrooms, such as the Kings County District Courthouse and the Brooklyn Court House.
While this is happening, the judge grades most aspects of the teams’ performances from one to five, though “professionalism” is graded from one to ten.
Earlier this year, Midwood beat Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School 62-50 and Edward R. Murrow High School 63-58, which allowed them to skip the third round of prelims and reach the playoffs.
In their first match of the playoffs, they went against the Dwight School as the prosecution. The team was a bit nervous but managed to prevail, winning by a single point to make the top 16.
Next, they competed against Brooklyn Tech on March 18, this time as the defense, again narrowly winning 57-55 to make the top eight.
“[The match-up] started out with strong opening statements from both sides, and we were bracing for a long battle," Luis Olvera ‘26 said. “As the prosecution went up, we successfully blocked evidence from being entered and blocked any potential rebuttals.”
The team is led by two head coaches, Mr. Christopher Eisenhardt and Mr. Eugene Resnick, who is back for his ninth and final year. Students honored both teachers’ leadership, as well as Mr. Resnick’s lasting contributions.
“He’s just always been there, pushing us to our limit,” said Olvera.
Mr. Resnick expressed how impressed he’s been with the students this year. “They are dedicated, they've grown so much, and they think quickly on their feet,” he said. "The case is complex and the law is complex. We are learning it together and the kids are up for it."
Practice for the team can get intense. They typically meet every Monday and Wednesday, but as the date of competition grows closer, they add Thursday, Saturday, and even Sunday practices as well. On weekdays, they practice in Midwood’s fourth floor courtroom, and on weekends they meet on Zoom.
Team members put a lot of responsibility on themselves, rehearsing their roles well, one of the reasons for their success.
Anne Mathurin ‘26, the co-captain and lead defense attorney, said, “Overall, all of our members are incredibly talented and they can think on their feet. Sometimes we just need to work on being more in sync.”
“We put so much stress on ourselves because if we mess up a little it could cost us the round,” said Zahid. “But we’re a team, and win or lose, we’re in this together.”
Mock Trial isn’t just about winning arguments. It’s also about learning the fundamentals of law and court procedure, as well as general skills such as how to listen to others and how to react when someone objects to your ideas. Whether or not the team is able to take home a championship this year, those are life lessons they will definitely be able to keep in their docket.