By: Ethan Melenevsky and Anna Kate Bailey
Image: Andy Sheng, James Junkin, Anna Kate Bailey, Mr. Michael Sinnott, Greta Christiansen, Parker Lachowicz, and Ethan Melenevsky (shown left to right) pose in the Alabama Supreme Court before the final trial.
From Friday, November 1 through Sunday, November 3, three Vestavia teams, along with advisors Mr. Michael Sinnott and Ms. Ashleigh Hancock, attended the YMCA Youth Judicial State conference in Montgomery. Each team advanced from the regional competition held at Spain Park High School in early October.
First, a brief overview of the competition:
Youth Judicial, or Mock Trial, is a law-themed competition in which students simulate a court proceeding. Each team of six is composed of three witnesses and three attorneys who testify based on their characters’ sworn statements, and three attorneys, who ask witnesses questions to elicit the facts they need to make their case—the legal argument by which they seek to win the verdict. Teams prepare to argue both sides of the case, so witnesses must be able to portray two characters and attorneys must create a line of questioning for each. Additionally, two attorneys deliver opening statements and closing arguments at the beginning and end of each trial.
Beginning in 2024, the Youth Judicial state competition is separated into Premier teams consisting of first-year freshmen and sophomores and Major teams made up of juniors, seniors, and returning sophomores. Of Vestavia’s teams, one competed in the Premier League and two competed in the Major League.
In the Premier League, Vestavia’s team Cheaha was captained by attorney Colin Cordova, whose teammates included Libby Soong, Carson Bradley, Zara Ziauddin, Thomas Dagnan, and Maya Beattie. Team captain Ellie Hoar, along with Holland Abernathy, Mariam Malik, Judy Yamani, Izzie Marsh, and Aleena Farooqui comprised Major team Hurston. Lastly, team captain Andy Sheng was joined by Ethan Melenevsky, James Junkin, Greta Christiansen, Anna Kate Bailey, and Parker Lachowicz to form Major team Mays.
Before the final trial begins, team Mays gathers for a picture at their table in the Alabama Supreme Court.
Now, a summary of the weekend’s events:
On Friday, Vestavia’s three teams arrived at the Embassy Suites in Montgomery, where they attended the opening ceremony and socialized with students from across the state. The next day, trials began—Major teams walked to the Montgomery U.S. District Court while Premier teams took a bus to the county courthouse. Each team competed in four rounds, evenly split with two as the defense and two as the prosecution. Trials began at 9:30 a.m. and ended at 7:00 p.m.
Later that evening, college staff announced which teams would compete for first place in both Leagues’ final trials. In the Premier League, team Cheaha would face off against a Spain Park team. In the Major League, team Mays became the first Vestavia team in ten years and second in history to advance to the final trial; Mays’s opponents were team Blount, also from Spain Park. Teams Cheaha and Mays both won their coin tosses and elected to represent the defense.
The Major League final trial, held in the Alabama Supreme Court, was a whirlwind of riveting opening statements and impeccable closing arguments as well as Oscar-worthy witness performances and incisive attorney questioning. Likewise, the Premier teams delivered strong arguments and convincing character portrayals.
The Alabama Youth in Government, youth judicial program had an exciting outcome this year, especially for Vestavia Hills High School.
In our tenth year of participation, Vestavia Hills High School made history by becoming the first winning Premier League team in Mock Trial!
The winning Premier League team consisted of six students in their first year of competition: Colin Cordova (Attorney), Libby Soong (Attorney), Carson Bradley (Attorney), Zara Ziauddin (Witness), Thomas Dagnan (Attorney), and Maya Beattie (Witness).
Premier team Cheaha took first place in the Premier League final trial.
Back row (left to right): Colin Cordova, Thomas Dagnan, Carson Bradley
Front row (left to right): Maya Beattie, Libby Soong, Zara Ziauddin
Also in Vestavia history, Major League Team Mays became the second Vestavia team ever to qualify for Final Trial, the equivalent of a state championship between the top two teams. Our team brought home second place consisting of six seniors: Andy Sheng (Attorney), James Junkin (Attorney), Ethan Melenevsky (Attorney), Greta Christiansen (Witness), Parker Lachowicz (Witness), and Anna Kate Bailey (Witness).
We also had several Vestavia students awarded for their exceptional performance. Greta Christiansen as an Outstanding Witness, Colin Cordova as an Outstanding Attorney, and representing Vestavia on the judging panel, Ethan Schmidt was selected to serve on the Supreme Court!