Rogers High School Goes to Trial Against Tiverton

This past Friday, seven students participated in a Mock Trial at the Newport County Courthouse. The trial was against Tiverton High School and it marked Rogers’ third mock trial since December.

The team consists of about 20 students from all grades. The students diligently practiced their opening and closing arguments, as well as cross-examinations of witnesses during their preparation the morning of the trial. Their advisor and coach, Steve Ferris, also provided feedback and assisted them with any outstanding questions. The Rogers team had one loss and one win going into Friday's trial.

“There’s a lot of luck involved in mock trials because you just don’t know how the judges will feel,” said Ferris, a history teacher at Rogers and eight-year veteran mock trial coach. “You only get three trials for a chance at the state play-offs, which means you don’t have time to make mistakes.”

Rogers High School has had a mock trial team for about 20 years and is the only extracurricular activity that meets during school hours because of court times. It allows the students to learn first-hand what it is like to work in a courtroom. 

“The students also work and practice with attorney Christopher Behan, who is the strategist behind the team,” Ferris said. “It’s a volunteer position for all of us, including the judges, but it’s a valuable academic activity for the students and we enjoy doing it.”

The trial began at 12:15 p.m. and communication between observers, coaches, friends and relatives was not allowed. Seven Rogers students participated in the case State of Rhode Island v. Parker Plunkett. Rogers was defending Plunkett, a rail conductor who was on trial for the potential murder of a woman in an automobile that was crossing the train tracks. The cause: texting while driving.

“We had a similar case like this one just a few weeks ago. It’s one that is an important issue in many young lives today," said attorney Alex Walsh,  who was one of the judges for the trial.

After hearing the openings, the witnesses and strong closing arguments, the judges, attorney Kevin Dwyer, Judge Karen Lynch Bernard, and Walsh, deliberated shortly to tally points and discuss the winner. Both teams and observers anxiously awaited the conclusion, as the courtroom grew loud with chatter about the trial.

When the judges returned, each of them offered advice and tips on how to improve, but mostly expressed how impressed they were with how well the teams prepared.

In the end Tiverton High School won, beating Rogers by ½ point.

 “Your schools should be proud,” Dwyer said. “I’ve been a mock trial judge for many years and have heard many trials, and this is the best I’ve ever seen.”