St. Charles North Mock Trial Team Wins State Championship

From the Community Unit School District 303: The St. Charles North High School Mock Trial team defended its 2017 championship by emerging as the 2018 State Champion in the Illinois State Bar Association State Mock Trial Tournament. Forty-three teams competed in Champaign, Il on March 24 and 25. Individual recognition was given to Joshua Heroldt as an Outstanding Attorney, and Sanjeev Viswan as Outstanding Witness. The title marks St. Charles North’s third state title in five years.

The ISBA state event was the culmination of a tournament season in which the team steadily improved, eventually placing third place at the Lake County Bar Association Mock Trial Tournament and second at the Northwest Suburban Bar Association Mock Trial Tournament. This was especially noteworthy given that 7 students from last year’s championship team graduated in 2017.

This year's case was Addison Grant v. Sam Smith, a civil case in which the plaintiff, a homeless woman, alleges false arrest and excessive force against police officer. Students had the opportunity to develop and present the case from both sides. Students are evaluated on their performances, including the quality of their arguments, effective advocacy, knowledge of the law, adaptability within the trial, and general presentation skills. The team has spent hundreds of hours analyzing the case, developing and trying out various theories and themes, examinations, statements, and arguments. The team focused this year on being “storytellers,” to help connect with the jury, and on “keeping it simple.”

They will now go on to represent the state of Illinois at the National High School Mock Trial Competition in May in Reno, Nevada. Prior to the competition in Reno, they will be studying federal rules of evidence. The cost of the trip is $10,000 so students are also working on their fundraising efforts.

The team is coached by teachers Janelle VanDeSampel & Robin Roberts, as well as Attorney Advisor and St. Charles High School Distinguished Alumni Pat Crimmins.

Image courtesy of Community Unit School District 303: (Varsity team members from L to R)

Front row: Adam Nguyen, Joshua Heroldt, Sanjeev Viswan, Ishani Patel, Lizzy Kramer, Vanshika Dixit

Back row: Patrick Brady, Deesha Patel, Brittany Cicinelli, Elena Maganini