Buffalo v. Buffalo – Mock Trial Teams Face-Off

There’s an urban legend among Mock Trial students that Buffalo v. Buffalo always happens in the fifth round of trial, the round that decides who is going to state. One year, it was round five Buffalo V1, mostly seniors facing off against Buffalo V2, mostly underclassmen. They rode the bus to the courthouse together, and they faced off in a battle of characters and wits, and the winner was… V2. There was silence and tears on the bus ride home as seniors lost their last chance to go to state for Mock Trial. 

This s not what happened on January 28th in round 3 of the Mock Trial Competition. This story is told when it’s Buffalo v. Buffalo mock trial to remind V2 there’s a chance to win, and to give it their all, and use it as a growth experience. 

The trial started as usual, both teams introduced their lawyers and witnesses, and handled all pre-trial matters, asking for permissions such as water at the attorney tables and preferences of the presiding judge. This year, the case provided by the mock trial competition was a defamation case, where Jesse Gates, of the defense, accused Harper Lightfoot, the Plaintiff of stealing a life preserver tied to the bow of the shipwreck of the S.S Fitzgerald in Lake Superior. 

Grant Swanson gave the opening statement for V2, highlighting the elements of the case that they must prove. Jesse Gates’ statements were made either recklessly or maliciously. Charlise Sorsoleil gave the opening statement for V1, who were playing the defense, and delivered their theme for proving Jesse Gates, played by Samantha (Sammy) Baardson, innocent of delivering defamatory statements by proving Harper lightfoot the plaintiff, did steal from the shipwreck of the S.S Fitzgerald in Lake Superior, which Jesse had accused him of, “Money over Morals”.  

Both openings covered the technical side of things that need to be declared in a jury trial. V2 was playing the role of the plaintiff and was up first to call witnesses. One main essential witness, Erika Torres Gutierrez, for the plaintiff playing Jackie Coostow, was declared the best witness of V2 at the conclusion of the trial. The entire line of questioning–delivered by V2 lawyer Lucy Mills– revolved around all the natural things that could have happened within Lake Superior for the life preserver to be gone missing from its usual spot. Once V2 had called all witnesses, the trial took a brief five-minute break. 

Then, V1 called their key witnesses, such as Jesse Gates, and Cook Gambi who was played by Haley Gentry. The trial concluded with both closing arguments from the Buffalo teams. Jill Sherwood reminds the scoring judges who act as the jury, “money over morals,” and how Harper Lightfoot was the last person to dive to the wreck of the S.S. Fitzgerald. 

Lucy Mills did the closing argument for V2, remarking on how the defense did not meet the elements to prove without a doubt that Harper Lightfoot didn’t steal the priceless life preserver from the wreck. After the trial, both teams received feedback from the three judges, and results were announced shortly, with both scoring judges putting Buffalo V2 at a point loss.

Buffalo V2 member Lucy Mills commented, “We kinda knew we would lose because it was junior varsity against varsity, But regardless of that, I feel like my team did pretty well, and I’m proud of them and all the work they did this year! It was also overall a very fun and positive experience and a good opportunity for our team to bond and grow closer together!!” 

Most viewed it as an opportunity for growth; an opportunity for the newer talents on both teams to learn, and gave V1 member Haley Gentry hope for the future of mock trial at Buffalo,

“It was really fun going against the V2 team, because seeing how hard they’ve worked and how good they’re already doing brings me a lot of hope for the future of V1 and Mock Trial.” 

Pride in growth and performance is a sentiment most members felt, to have both teams advance in skill and experience was the goal.

Mr. Swanson, head coach, said of the trial, “I truly feel that both teams did very well, and it was, for me personally and selfishly, it was really cool to watch it because I knew every single person who was competing.”

Congratulations and good luck to both Buffalo teams in the rest of the mock trial season!