On February 4, the PDS Mock Trial team won the Mercer County Mock Trial Tournament, showcasing the results of months-long preparation, dedication, and persistence among coaches and students. After hours spent both in practices and at the Mercer County courthouses, the PDS team succeeded in securing the county title once again.

Since early November, team members have been analyzing case materials, refining opening and closing statements, and rehearsing direct and cross examinations relentlessly. These efforts would have been impossible without the guidance of four talented, highly experienced coaches throughout the season.

Lisa Warren ’71, Kathy Flicker P’04, Mike Rosenberg P’04, and Scott Rosenberg ’04 have supported the PDS Mock Trial program for years, helping students enhance their abilities in legal reasoning, public speaking, and collaboration. The coaches draw upon their diverse personal backgrounds in law, bringing real-world expertise into their mentorship of PDS students. Accordingly, students benefit from a unique combination of seasoned Mock Trial experience and decades of hands-on legal practice.

Reflecting on the more challenging aspects of Mock Trial, Coach Warren explained, “When we try to take the facts [and] present them as a cohesive story through a certain number of witnesses each with a certain amount of time, doing that is always a challenge.” Coach Flicker added that despite these challenges, Mock Trial is important because “it teaches students to focus, to go outside their comfort zone, and to think logically,” among many other key skills.

All of the coaches’ lessons and critiques paid off when the PDS team entered the preliminary rounds of the county competition on January 31. There, students truly embodied their roles as attorneys and witnesses. By the end of the day, strong performances against West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South, Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science, and the Lawrenceville School qualified them for the county finals against Princeton High School.

Less than a week later, PDS returned to compete in the championship round of the county tournament. In a cavernous courtroom at the Mercer County Criminal Courthouse, what began as bi-weekly practices after school culminated in remarkable skill, poise, and confidence. Ultimately, the team prevailed, earning the title of county champions. Freshman Alicia Xue reflected on the season, sharing, “We’ve had a season with both ups and downs, so I think we should just try our best…and be really proud of everyone on the team and how far we’ve come.”

Now, PDS Mock Trial looks ahead to the New Jersey Central Regional Mock Trial Competition, ready to bring the same energy, teamwork, and determination to the next round and, hopefully, beyond!