At John Jay High School, mock trial is no joke

CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - If Matt Cazacu was ever on trial, he knows the type of lawyer he’d want: Joe Pesci from "My Cousin Vinny."

The delivery of the iconic actor really stood out because the viewer and the courtroom can’t help following along with the narrative. Crucial, reasoned the John Jay senior, “because a court case is just telling a story in the better way.”

But even though the chances of being indicted or practicing in front of the bench is slim, that doesn’t mean he’s left himself out of such legal drama.

He’s been on the John Jay Mock Trial Team since 9th grade, and its trial season. 

After the team’s successful presentation on March 6 at the White Plains Court House, said Cazacu, “We’re onto the round of 16.”

The fictional case involves a school superintendent running for state office. A student has created an AI generated video that did damage to the campaign, and the plaintiff is suing. 

Obviously, no money will change hands, but no decision is rendered either.

“We get judged on a point system,” said Cazacu.

Of course, the process begins before the court date. Teams get the case file right after Thanksgiving and it’s the studying up that inspires Cazacu.  AI this time, business and science in previous years, he said, “it teaches general facts about life.”

From there, the team prepares a strategy and decides who will be the lawyers and who will be the witnesses.

“We work on the roles,” said the senior, and now they’ve added a real lawyer to help with the presentation and preparation.

Onto court, the players begin the narrative.

“You learn to portray a witness and how to talk around topics, so you can do well for your side and cast shade on the other,” said Cazacu. “Then as a lawyer, you learn how to nail the witness, build your story and make your side more believable.”

And that’s the real prize for him. First as a witness, he said, “if you are able to dodge the other side’s questions, it feels amazing. Because you knew you screwed with them, and they didn’t get what they wanted.”

On the attack, the lawyer side feels just as uplifting.

“When you make a good argument or if you see the judge nod or kind of smile, there’s a sense of pride,” said Cazacu. “This person, who went to law school, thinks that you did a good job.”

Still, he’s not planning on a law degree, but the competition is not just about fun and games.

“It’s more for me to learn public speaking, and how to think on my feet,” he explained. 

Cazacu will continue to do so on the college mock trial circuit, while he’s not forgetting about John Jay.

“It’s a lot of fun, and hopefully, people will read this and join Mock Trial,” he concluded.