Jacob Unson

Students of Phoenixville Area High School’s Mock Trial team participated in a scenario this year that sounds like a plot straight from NBC’s Law & Order. A family is suing a company for the wrongful death of their daughter, killed by a fellow employee at work during work hours. Divided into two groups, the Mock Trial Team went to the Chester County courthouse on February 19 and 20 to take part in a state-level Mock Trial competition. These competitions, designed to give students a better understanding of the justice system, allow students to step into the roles of lawyers, witnesses, and prosecutors and simulate real-world courtroom situations.

Representing Phoenixville on day one of the Trial was Team one, consisting of Alex Hytha, Anthony DiNardo, and Alex Dark as Lawyers, with Owen Howson, Rachel Dillinger, Kelsey Hodgkiss and Melissa Quinnen as Witnesses. Day two had Team two, respectively, with Dan Hammaker, Brendan Farrell, Samantha Henry, Paul Deichmann, and Jefferson Holbrook as Lawyers, and Talia DeMartinis, Alex Kray, Alex Babinchak, and Liz Beckerman as Witnesses. Both teams were coordinated by Katie Yoder.

The Phoenixville team went up against Henderson High School, but unfortunately lost. Nonetheless, the Phoenixville Mock Trial team was praised for their efforts by Judge Eric Trajtenberg in a letter to Mock Trial Advisor Mrs. Havrilla. “Your students did a terrific job during Round One of the competition. Everybody’s performance and demeanor was respectful, polite, and professional. You should be very proud of the students and all that they have accomplished,” Trajtenberg wrote, commending the team. In the end, all of the students involved came away from the experience with a proper impression of how our justice system functions everyday.