Student lawyers test skills

For about three hours on Friday part of the top floor of the Robert R. Muntz Library looked and sounded like a real courtroom.

Witnesses idled in the hallway waiting to be called to testify before a jury. Prosecuting and defense attorneys prepared their cases in whispers, while a panel of “judges” watched and ruled on their every move.

It wasn’t real, but for the Pre-Law Society members and criminal justice majors it seemed that way from the opening statements to the reading of the jury’s verdict.

Natalie Hughes, left, and Maegan Westbrook, both criminal justice majors, discuss their case during the Mock Trial on Friday morning conducted in the library. Photo by Mikosha Phoenix

The mock trial event, organized by Dr. Katherine Pang, an assistant criminal justice professor, gave students on opportunity to practice their courtroom skills and then to be judged by the pros — Richard Vance, an assistant Smith County district attorney, retired State District Judge Cynthia Stevens Kent, and Tyler attorney Ronnie Baugh.

“Wonderful job, very well prepared,” Kent, who is now in private practice, told the students in her critique. “I’m impressed with the quality of performance here today.”

About 30 people attended the event that included a slew of volunteers.

The jury heard testimony in the case involving the death of Filipia Newton, a homeless woman caught in a fire at an abandoned car dealership.

Prosecutors Liz Green, Tricia Mehler, and Lorna Harris contended defendant Robin Banks killed the victim while attempting to burn his business and collect the insurance.

However, defense attorneys Maegan Westbrook and Natalie Hughes offered witnesses who suggested the victim’s brother, Larry, should be a suspect because he had a history of assaulting her.

The plot thickened as witness after witness offered testimony to support both sides in a case Kent said was heavily weighted in favor of the defendant. In the end, the jury acquitted Banks.

“Ya’ll did a great job, you can’t beat the experience,” Vance said, “this was better than at law school.”

The panel of experts offered an array of advice for the “attorneys” including encouraging them to address the jury more directly, to work on properly submitting evidence, and how to control the questioning of a witness.

Kent told the student to remember to “tell a story” so the jury can clearly understand the issue or issues it needs to decide.

The three-hour event took its toll on all the student participants, especially Westbrook who cried tears of joy after the verdict was read.

“I’m excited we won, we got the verdict we wanted, all the hard work paid off,” Westbrook said.

The prosecutors may not have been happy with an acquittal, but the experience was priceless.

“It was a lot of fun, had a really good time, and I would love to do it again,” Mehler said.

Some of the students even got job offers from the experts — although they encouraged them to finish law school first. Baugh said the students did a “fabulous job.”

“Honestly, I commend you,” Kent said. “You have my compliments.”

By Amy Weatherholtz Staff Writer