A new chapter for Mock Trial

A new chapter for mock trial: after three years of adviser turnovers, the OG Mock Trial club is ready to turn the page. On Aug. 20 during lunch, more than 30 student organizations gathered in Patriot Plaza for Club Rush. Clubs used the event to promote their activities and encourage students to join. Among these many clubs was Mock Trial, where students were cautiously optimistic about Elizabeth Florez, their newest adviser. 

“The concern was that the teacher they had before she transferred out, and they have been trying to scramble and find advisers here and there. I think that’s been a lot of the difficulty they’ve been having,” Florez said. 

Florez, a former OG graduate, now tutor spends her time helping OG students in all subjects and is eager to bring stability and structure to Mock Trial after stepping in as the adviser in the past three years. She plans to guide the team through the roles and the case brief they received on Sept. 12 and begin working with attorney coaches by November. 

The club will be facing the trial case of Logan Gold, the assistant campaign manager for their spouse Harper Dorais, for allegedly kidnapping Dorais’s election rival, Taylor Alexander, to prevent them from attending a key debate. A pretrial hearing will address whether a statement Gold made in custody should be included. The prosecution argues Gold had a motive to oppose Alexanders’ policies and abducted them, and his statement was made involuntarily. While the defense claims otherwise and that Gold was distributing flyers and suggests Alexander faked the kidnapping, the case of People v. Gold. 

Florez’s experience in Mock Trial, in both high school and college, not only as leader but as a participant in the courtroom underscores her commitment to enhancing the students’ experiences. 

“I was in an EOP affiliated program and being able to see the commitment that a lot of students had of playing the roles and just seeing that click of saying ‘omg I did such a good job, is just impressive’” Florez said. 

For current and newer students, this new transition has been a positive change, with Florez’s experience and resilience. Instilling confidence and enthusiasm for not only the club’s progress but the growth in the student’s skills.

“The skills are definitely like public speaking, you know elaborating on things, critical thinking, thinking about what’s further on than what you have, I think those skills are very useful in life,” Arroyo, 12, said.

The student’s skills aren’t the sole reason for the club’s future success, crediting the new recent improvements to the change in leadership. 

“Our previous adviser didn’t progress much in the club, But our new adviser has helped so much with organizing and deadlines like in club rush,” Arroyo, 12, said. 

Many club members agree with Arroyo; they are eager to see how Florez’s leadership impacts the club’s future. 

“I feel like if there is an adviser who has been there for a long time and dedicated a lot of time since the club, it would motivate the students and to join,” Noel Sanchez,12, said. 

Before Florez, Mock Trial was guided by Social Science teacher Michael Sovacool for two years. Sovacool was persuaded by students in his AP US History class to take on the role and provide students with courtroom experience. Even with his step down as adviser, to step up as a father to his three children, Sovacool wishes the best for our students. 

“It was a good experience. I’m glad they are in some good hands with Miss Florez. Put your time in and practice and take advantage of the attorney coaches,” Sovacool said.