Debate team wins

SPOKANE — The Boundary County Middle School Debate Team had a successful day in court on Saturday during their first mock trial held at the Spokane County Courthouse.

Two BCMS students were awarded Best Attorney and Best Witness for their roles. Attorney Alisa Hannaman and witness Ally Martin were the recipients of the awards, which were judged and selected by the 12 acting jurors, who were actually third-year Gonzaga University law students.

The case details included a man testing out an automatic car that was actually being controlled by a remote operator.

Along comes a farmer driving a cart with a mule. Jurors heard how the mule was frightened by a swarm of mosquitos, swerved into the automatic car’s lane, causing tools on the cart to be launched at the vehicle and ultimately killing the test driver.

A lawsuit is filed against the remote controlled car company and the remote operator who are charged with manslaughter.

Jurors would later discover that the swarm of mosquitos had been let out by a poorly unsupervised group of science students.

Two Spokane County judges volunteered to act as mock trial judges as each team acted as the defense and then the prosecution.

BCMS Debate Team Instructor Kelly Hinthorn said the jurors scored each witness and attorney throughout the day and totaled up their points at the end.

“All of our students were outstanding,” Hinthorn said. “Our prosecution was able get a conviction on finding Ithacus Solutions, the fictitious car company, guilty on all charges, because they had put the car on the roadways before being fully tested and, our defense team was able to poke enough holes in the opposing team’s case in order to get a not guilty verdict.”

Hannaman, who said she would like to be a judge someday, said she enjoyed every minute of the experience.

“Everyone worked really well together and we made a great team,” Hannaman said. “Not only did we have the opportunity for this great learning experience in court, we were also provided with a the old Spokane County Jail and the trial rooms. I would like to thank my mom, Mrs. Hinthorn, Mr. Sukenik, Mr. Weed, the Spokane County judges, Gonzaga’s law students, and all of the members of the Rotary for making this possible. Thank you!”

Hinthorn said that though all of the students’ performance were top notch, Hannaman’s performance as prosecutor stood out most to the judges.

“I think what made Hannaman stand out was the way she presented herself throughout her role as prosecutor,” Hinthorn said. “The way she was dressed — very professional — her confidence, her delivery, it was amazing. And, her closing argument was the clincher — it was what drove the nail through the coffin.”

Hinthorn said that Hannaman’s has excellent communication skills and believes that, in addition to the debate class, her recent participation on the OMEGA Robotics Team has added to her skills tremendously.

Martin, who won her role as Best Witness, said, though she chose to be a witness during the trial, she is considering a degree in law and would like to be an attorney someday.

Martin said she volunteered for the class because her mother wants her to get good grades and encourages her to try new classes that will challenge her.

“We got to choose what part we played and I chose to be the farmer witness because I thought I’d make a pretty good farmer since I am one in real,” Martin laughed. “I chose the debate class because it was the best class I could think of. It was very exciting to be court. We had great teamwork — and we all put in a lot of effort.”

Hinthorn said what made Martin stand out to the judges was the obvious work she had put into creating her character. Martin played a witness who was an Amish farmer.

Hinthorn said that in the early stages of practice, she had asked Martin what she thought an Amish farmer would talk and sound like.

Hinthorn said Martin practiced her accent diligently and was able to perform her role perfectly during the trial.

“You could tell that everyone loved what she had done with her voice and character,” Hinthorn said. “Everyone was supposed to be very serious, but you could tell that the judge and jury and everyone in the courtroom had a hard time keeping a straight face when Ally got up there and started talking. And, she just sat up there and played it out perfectly. It was great!”

Hinthorn said she credits volunteers Ron Sukenik, who served as the Boundary County court bailiff for 25 years, and Boundary Economic Development Director Dennis Weed, who has a law degree, for the debate team’s success on Saturday.

“I can’t even tell you how instrumental both of them were in the success of this program,” Hinthorn said. “The hours and dedication that the two of them put into this project were amazing. Because of them, the kids were way more prepared than the other teams.

They knew this case inside and out. I can’t even begin to express my gratitude to both Ron and Dennis for time that they committed.”

Hinthorn also credited Sukenik and Weed for the students’ personal growth throughout this process and that because of them, they were able to demonstrate an amazing amount of confidence as they delivered their parts.

“This was a difficult case that was written for high school students, but because of their guidance, even the kids that are typically very shy, got up there and nailed,” Hinthorn said. “They spoke clearly, and confidently and everyone knew their parts.”

Sukenik volunteered as a Rotarian and the Bonners Ferry Rotary funded the debate team’s entire program.

Hinthorn said, as a thank you, the debate team will once again act out their roles for members of the Rotary, so that they can experience the program that they made possible.

The debate team will hold their mock trial at the Boundary County courthouse, on Feb. 21.