Mock Trial 2023 Booklet

February 16-17, 2023

Guma' Hustisia, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands v. Dimitri Dela Cruz

Hafaadai!

Welcome to the High School Mock Trial Competition! After a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are excited to see our exceptional students' analytical and advocacy skills!

Once again, the Public School System, particularly the Federal Programs Office, will provide funding to send the championship team to the national competition in May. We are grateful for their continued support of the program.

We acknowledge the assistance of the CNMI Bar Association -Executive Director Peonie C Cabrera and the members who either volunteered to coach the students or serve as scoring jurors in the competition rounds. We thank Judiciary Historical Society trustee Bernie B. Dela Cruz and Community volunteer Emma B. Peters for their assistance in planning for the competition.

Our Judiciary leadership and staff also provided much time and tremendous effort to make the competition possible, as we recognize that the Mock Trial program promotes the Cornerstones of Democracy: Civic, Civility, and Collaboration, this year's Law Week theme

Lastly, to our outstanding students who rose to the challenge, we hope the skills you gained in preparing for the competition will open new doors for you, and we wish you each the best of luck!

SCHEDULE

Thursday,February16, 2023

Round 1 8:30 am

Courtroom217

JudgeTeresaK Kim-Tenorio

Round 2 11:00 am

Courtroom220

JusticePerry B.Inos

Round 3 2:00 pm

Courtroom220

JudgeJosephN Camacho

Friday,February17,2023

Announcement of 8:00 am Finalists

Guma' HustisiaAtrium

Championship Round 8:30 am

SupremeCourt Courtroom

Chief JudgeRamonaV.Manglona

AwardsCeremony 11:30 am

Guma' HustisiaAtrium

CaseSummary

The Northern Mariana Islands are known for the important role they played in World War II. This case draws on this rich history. Sometime during the night on October 3, 2021, the barrel of a World War II tank gun was removed from a public, historic site. A CNMI police officer discovered the tank gun and a note for its sale on a boat docked in the public marina. The boat owner, Dimitri/Damiena Dela Cruz, was charged with the theft of the tank gun. Dela Cruz claims that he/she is being framed by a former romantic partner, Sam Sablan.

CommonwealthoftheNorthernMarianaIslandsv. Dimitri DelaCruz

Teacher Coaches

Robyn Spaeth

Don Cohen

Attorney Coaches

Doug Hartig

Vina Seelam

Students

Mylan Goodwin

Conall Hartig

Hayden Igisomar

Hannah Lim

Prapti Mondal

Sienna Morgan

Jane Mozunder

Jia Ross Nicdao

Anastasiia Shamanaeva

Kelly Zheng

Students

Zayden Atalig

Rianna Barcinas

Alwyn Bermeo

Aden Calvo

Carlos Calvo

Jelina Calvo

Bernice Feolino

Elmer Guiang

Lovelee Jingco

Eianne Ladao

Son Joe Manuel

Sayera Sidur

Teacher Coaches

Joycelynn Atalig

Charlene Manglona

Attorney Coaches

Oliver Manglona

Charity Hodson

Teacher Coaches

Paul Miura

Dora Miura

Attorney Coaches

Jose Mafnas, Jr.

Janina Maratita

Students

Judy Andebor

Aisha Lansangan

Jing Lin

Jessie Lynn Reyes

Ye Zhi Sablan

Shamira Sulyman

Andrew Sunderland

Awards

Thefollowingawardswill bepresented at the AwardsCeremony:

2023 M ock Trial Champion

TheChampionship Perpetual Gavel will beawarded to thisyear'sprevailingteam, aswell asindividual trophiesand a cash award. Theteam also earnsthehonor of representingtheNorthern Marianasat theNational High School MockTrial Tournament in LittleRock, Arkansason May18-20, 2023.

Finalist

The2nd placeteam will beawarded a trophy, cash prize, and individual silver medalsin recognition of itsexcellent performancein thepreliminaryroundsand Championship Round.

Supreme Court Professionalism Aw ard

Atrophyispresented to theteam that exemplifiestheguidingprinciplesof advocacy, professionalism, courtesy, and respect to judges, jurors, fellow participants, and thejusticesystem.

Best Prosecution Attorney and Best D efense Attorney

Trophieswill bepresented to thetwo advocatesasselected bythejurorsbased on their outstandingperformanceduringthepreliminaryroundsof competition.

Prosecution Attorney and D efense Attorney - Honorable M ention

Trophieswill bepresented to two studentsasHonorableMention commending their performanceduringthepreliminaryroundsof competition.

Best Prosecution W itness and Best D efense W itness

Trophieswill bepresented to thetwo witnessesasselected bythejurorsbased on their outstandingperformanceduringthepreliminaryroundsof competition.

Prosecution W itness and D efense W itness - Honorable M ention

Trophieswill bepresented to two studentsasHonorableMention commending their performanceduringthepreliminaryroundsof competition.

Past Champions

Champions

Supreme Court Professionalism Aw ard

NoCompetitionHeld- COVID-19 Pandemic

National Champions

National Championship M

ay 2023,LittleRock,AR

For thechampionship, Arkansasanticipatesaround fivehundred student participants, accompanied by another ninehundred or so out-of-stateguests. The competition'stentative scheduleincludesthefollowing:

Wednesday, May 17

NMI Team arrives in Little Rock, AR

Thursday, May 18

Other teams and volunteers arrive. Teams scrimmage (practice). Volunteer reception held. Teams visit local venue of interest (baseball game, museum, etc.).

Friday, May 19

Rounds 1 & 2 of competition held. Teams explore host city for dinner. Teams visit another local venue of interest. Volunteer reception held.

Sat urday, May 20

Rounds 3 & 4 of competition held Final round held to determine national champion Awards banquet or reception to announce winner (often with nationally renowned keynote speaker). Dance!

Sunday, May 21

Teams and volunteers depart.

MockTrial Flyer (website-files.com)

The American Bar Association (ABA) recently announced the 2023 Law Day theme:

Cornerst ones of Dem ocracy: Civics, Civilit y, and Collaborat ion

The Judiciary will be conducting several events for the public beginning in February and leading up to Law Week in early May

The ABA and the Judiciary invite everyone to join us in rebuilding trust in our institutions, respect for one another, and our willingness to collaborate to address the challenges that face our nation and the Commonwealth LawDay(americanbar org)

Law Week Events

M ay 1-5,2023

TheJudiciaryhasa slateof excitingeventsin the months leadingup to Law Week!

February

High School Mock Trial

March

Justices and Judges in the Classroom

Courthouse Tour

Konbetsasion with a Justice/Judge

April

Supreme Court Appellate Session

Elementary School Poster Contest

Middle School Essay Contest

Courthouse Tour

Law Week Proclamation Ceremony

May

Drug Court Month

Mental Health Awareness Month

Attorney General's Cup

Courthouse Tour

Takeover Day - Justice & Judge for a Day

Mock Trial Committee

Commonwealth Judiciary

Supreme Court Clerk of Court Judy T. Aldan

MockTrial Coordinator

Justice John A Manglona

Justice Perry B Inos

Law Clerk Keith H. Ketola

Law Clerk Benjamin S. Schwartz

Judicial Assistant Josephine N. Estrada

Programs Specialist Jennalyd S Babauta

ARPA Scanning Clerk Tracy D Limes

Northern Marianas Bar Association

Executive Director Peonie C. Cabrera

NMI Judiciary Historical Society

Bernie B. Dela Cruz

Emma B. Peters