By: Benjamin Cisneros Veterans Memorial/Austin Delegation February 3rd, 2024 Austin, TX – The trial court section of the YMCA Youth and Government program can be considered a quite complex endeavor to most. However, the Youth and Government delegates who participate in the mock trial section make it seem as easy as can be. If we were to break it down we would first start with what everyone does. The attorneys are the most important people in the courtroom; they are the ones who interpret the case and turn it into their story, choosing to both defend and prosecute. Next up to bat would be the witnesses, the reason the witnesses are present in the courtroom is that they are here to prove the attorney’s case. They provide testimonies and at times even expert opinion. They help further push the attorneys’ case. Without the witnesses, attorneys would not have a case to present.Ashley Cordes, a witness for Veterans Memorial High School was asked what was the most important part of her role she stated that “Knowing which pieces of information are vital to the case”.

Now for the position who presides over the court, the judge. As the name implies they determine who has the better case at the end of the trial and determine if the defendant is guilty or not guilty. Last but not least we have the bailiff, they are the timekeeper and make sure that the trial goes according to schedule. Gael Maldonado, the bailiff for Veterans Memorial High School had this to say about his position. “I love being a bailiff because I get to observe the trial without getting caught in the line of fire, I enjoy being neutral and get to formulate my own opinion much like the judge.” Now that everyone has been introduced, the stage is set, the trial begins with the opening statements by the prosecution (the defense can defer their opening statements until after the state’s case). The judge will now swear in all witnesses requiring them to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. Once the witnesses are under oath the prosecution may now call their first witness to the stand for direct examination. The prosecution has eighteen minutes between all three of the witnesses, after the first witness has testified, opposing counsel may begin their cross-examination, which they have fifteen minutes to do so. The same process is repeated for all three of the witnesses. After the prosecution’s witnesses have testified, the defense may now call their witnesses to the stand and repeat the same process.

Immediately after the witnesses have been examined the state may now have three minutes for their closing statements, any extra time may be saved for rebuttal after the defense has given their closing arguments. Finally, once all matters have been taken care of the judge walks out of the courtroom to deliberate accounting for all factors and arguments presented by both counsels and their witnesses. After deliberation, the judge returns with the final verdict of guilty or not guilty. The Youth and Government program has some of the most promising future attorneys and judges. From what I’ve witnessed this weekend the fate of America’s legal system lies in good hands.