HIGH school students are playing the roles of attorneys and witnesses, arguing and testifying before judges in the courtroom for the chance to represent the CNMI at the national mock trial competition in Little Rock, Arkansas on May 18-20, 2023.
Rounds 1 to 3 of the local competition were held on Thursday before Superior Court Judge Theresa Kim-Tenorio, Justice Perry B. Inos, and Judge Joseph N. Camacho.
The participating schools this year are defending champion Marianas High School, Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr.-Sr. High School and four-time champion Saipan Southern High School. Eight-time champion Mount Carmel School is not participating.
Today, Friday, Feb. 17, at 8 a.m. the finalists who will advance to the championship round will be announced.
The awards ceremony will be held after the championship round.
This year’s topic concerns the hypothetical theft of parts of the historic Japanese World War II tank on Beach Road.
MHS has won the two previous mock trials. Its teacher-coaches are Robyn Spaeth and Don Cohen while its attorney-coaches are Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig and Assistant Public Defender Vina Seelam.
The MHS student participants are Mylan Goodwin, Conall Hartig, Hayden Igisomar, Hannah Lim, Prapti Mondal, Sienna Morgan, Jane Mozunder, Jia Ross Nicdao, Anastasia Shamanaeva and Kelly Zheng.
The Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr.-Sr. High School student participants are Zayden Atalig, Rianna Barcinas, Alwayn Bermeo, Aden Calvo, Carlos Calvo, Jelina Calvo, Bernice Feolino, Elmer Guiang, Lovelee Jingco, Eianne Ladao, Son Joe Manuel, and Sayera Sidur.
Their teacher-coaches are Joycelynn Atalig and Charlene Manglona while their attorney-coaches are Oliver Manglona and Charity Hodson.
The SSHS student participants are Judy Andebor, Aisha Lansangan, Jing Lin, Jessie Lynn Reyes, Ye Zhi Sablan, Shamira Sulyman and Andrew Sunderland.
Their teacher-coaches are Paul and Dora Miura while their attorney-coaches are Jose Mafnas Jr. and Janina Maratita.
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the mock trial competition was not held in 2021 and 2022.
First held in 1999, the annual competition is sponsored by the CNMI judiciary, the Public School System, the NMI Bar Association, and the Northern Marianas Judiciary Historical Society.
The mock trial perpetual gavel trophy is displayed at the Guma’ Hustisia in Susupe.
