As the weather remains frigid in Illinois, the Mock Trial season is heating up. According to advisor Cindy Fuhrer, members of the HHS Mock Trial Team will travel to the Kane County Judicial Center on Tuesday, Feb. 7 to compete in a season-starting scrimmage.

Mock Trial is an IBSA-sanctioned activity where students from different schools play witnesses and attorneys to defend or prosecute a criminal. The cases switch between civil and criminal every year. Students participating learn valuable skills, like time management and public speaking, as well as the intricacies of the American legal system.

Huntley’s Mock Trial team has been very successful in the past, going to state numerous times in previous years. Team members credit this success to their preparation.

“We practice about three days a week until 4 p.m., 4:30 as we get closer to competition,” junior Madelyn Peterson said. “It’s my first year in Mock Trial and I feel like I’m learning a ton.”

The 2022-2023 season presents a criminal case. Two boys are in a school play when student Logan Emerson fatally shoots his fellow cast member with a prop gun. Emerson is on trial for murder. On Feb. 7, the HHS defense team will try to argue his innocence to a real judge.

The Mock Trial team is captained by senior Zoe Hurmi and junior Priya Thakar. The pair, along with Dr. Fuhrer, delegate positions based on ability and experience. Thakar is currently competing in her second year, where she plays the role of prosecution attorney.

“I’ll do the prosecution’s opening statements and interview two witnesses on the stand,” Thakar said. “Mock Trial has really improved my public speaking skills.”
Keep an eye out for this team. If you’re looking to see them compete soon, they have a real competition on Feb. 22 and the state competition is March 17-19.