After hundreds of hours toiling away after school, dealing with a difficult court case about death related to discrimination, learning an actual, very complex defense, and battling through the toughest regional competition in the state (Multnomah), St. Mary’s Academy varsity and junior varsity Mock Trial teams placed a very impressive third and fourth in the state competition, sponsored by the Classroom Law Project.
“Classroom Law Project is thrilled that both of St. Mary’s teams made it to the State Competition!” says Barbara Rost, Program Director of the Classroom Law Project. “Your young women showed again what St. Mary’s is all about – teamwork, rich academic opportunities, understanding justice and fairness; all while having a great time! We are truly proud of their accomplishments.”
Students who compete in Mock Trial act as attorney, witness, bailiff and clerk. They have to prepare strategies and roles for both sides – prosecution and defense – because they do not know which side they will be assigned during the competition until just before they begin. This year’s case was patterned after a landmark case argued in Portland by Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center. The "real" case, Berhanu v. Metzger, involved the beating death by skinheads of Mulugeta Seraw – an Ethiopian student at Portland State. The civil case brought suit against an organization from California, White Aryan Resistance (WAR), and its leader, Tom Metzger. The judgment was for wrongful death and resulted in a $12 million award which bankrupted WAR.
The Case the teams worked on this year, Johnson v. Brewster, et al., was billed as one where “free speech collides head on with racial prejudice in a civil wrongful death case”. In the case, Martha Johnson believed her son Leon was brutally murdered because he was African American. The defendants said it wasn’t so — there was an altercation, but Johnson had it coming. And they claimed one of the defendants wasn't even there at the time.
“This case was a difficult one,” says Rost. “It dealt with where free speech ends and hate speech begins. It dealt with words transcending speech and entering violence. This case became a teaching tool for students to learn constructive ways to deal with destructive elements in our society.”
This year’s Mock Trial Competition began with over 80 teams around Oregon competing for the state championship. While the St. Mary’s teams were led by teacher Donald Housley, both teams were coached by local attorneys, who spent more than 500 attorney and 150 paralegal hours preparing the students. “The number of hours involved in Mock Trial is staggering,” says Housley. “We are deeply thankful to the legal coaches for their time and expertise.”
The varsity team was coached by local attorney Alyssa Tormala, an attorney at Miller Nash LLP, whose Mock Trial experience started when she was in high school. She has been coaching at St. Mary’s for six years and was the sole varsity coach of the eight team members this year. The team began their practices just before Christmas break and met at least twice a week after school after that.
“I think Mock Trial has been a wonderful opportunity for St. Mary’s students to learn not only about the legal system, but also gain skills in public speaking, presenting, argument, and factual analysis,” says Tormala. “I am extremely proud of the eight girls on the Varsity team and hope this experience has been a memorable one for them.”
Local attorney Andy Aubertine, of Aubertine Law Firm, coached the Junior Varsity (JV) team. Aubertine also has been involved with the St. Mary’s Mock Trial teams for six years and has really enjoyed the program-building aspect of his work. “Mock Trial is so much more than legal work – it emphasizes teamwork and leadership,” says Aubertine. “I am particularly proud of our JV team because they were one of only two JV teams to make it to state and, with no experience whatsoever at the state level, they captured fourth in state.” The St. Mary’s JV team ultimately battled West Linn, who won first in state, and was the only team to take a ballot from the powerhouse.
St. Mary’s Assistant Principal of Academics Alena Kelly attended the event and was “Overwhelmingly proud of the young ladies – they were awesome.” “My impression was that the students were incredibly well prepared, poised and confident. One of the judges commented that they must have carefully studied the case, because they utilized a strategy that the actual defense team used – which was complex. They were complimented on their ability to articulate their objections even when pressed by the judges and their understanding of the law. The witnesses, as well, presented their testimony with believability and finesse that would convince any jury. The opening and closing statements were crafted and delivered to speak to an intelligent jury while clearly setting forth the primary legal tenants of the case, the defenses’ position and the shortcomings of the prosecution.”
The students on the Blue, Varsity team included Abeni Amidu, Amanda Arrigotti, Katherine Carr, Jennifer Dentel, Alexa Damis-Wulff, Sarah Eden, Dallas Jessup, and Maryann Tung. The White, JV team consisted of Lauren Goss, Ivy Gress, Elena Lien, Logan McDonald, Taylor Mundy, Janelle Myers, Morgan Nelson, Emily Pellegrini, Emily Springer, Charlotte Van Cleve, and Bailey Wilcox.
Founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary’s Academy of Portland, is Oregon’s oldest continuously operating secondary school and one of 716 all-female schools in the country. The student body represents a diverse background of young women from over 30 urban, suburban, and rural communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington. St. Mary’s Academy is distinguished by its development of the whole person, and is the only school in the state to receive three U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools awards.
after a landmark case argued in Portland by Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center. The "real" case, Berhanu v. Metzger, involved the beating death by skinheads of Mulugeta Seraw – an Ethiopian student at Portland State. The civil case brought suit against an organization from California, White Aryan Resistance (WAR), and its leader, Tom Metzger. The judgment was for wrongful death and resulted in a $12 million award which bankrupted WAR.