Chapter 461

“Alright, folks,” Garrison said loudly as he, the female lawyer from the other firm and an older man who looked like he was in his seventies all mounted the stage. “Welcome to court. I’d like to present to you the Honourable Ivan Mathews. Judge Mathews served as a District Judge for seventeen years, and then on the State Supreme Court for another twenty-two, all after a successful career as a criminal prosecutor with a specialty in financial crimes.”

You and all the other interns clapped politely, and you sort of wanted to shake the man’s hand. It was an impressive career and, to be frank with yourself, he sounded like a fucking amazing reference for law school applications. There were also a little under two dozen other folks who had come in; several were Associates and Partners from your firm, and you had a feeling the others would be from the opposing one. They were all clapping as well, and you wondered if the Judge was something of a local legal celebrity.

“Judge Mathews will be presiding over your trial,” Garrison said.

“Let’s keep things fun, and have a good mock trial,” Judge Mathews said. “I don’t want any funny business. What my good friend here didn’t tell you is that I also managed the high school and college-level Mock Trial association in the State for forty years, including when he was competing in college, and have written several large cases including the one you’ll be presenting today.”

“Shiiiit,” Sabrina hissed softly beside you through her smile.

You glanced at Garrison, who was smirking just a little, and you knew he’d been sitting on that one just to put that last little bit of pressure on the four of you.

“Any questions?” Garrison asked all of you.

You shook your head slightly, though you felt like you should have had questions. Out of the corner of your eye, you thought you saw Samantha twitch at the other table, but someone must have stopped her.

“Great,” Garrison said. “Then, All Rise for the Honourable Judge Mathews. Sir, you can assume your position.”

The Judge, who used a cane lightly even though he didn’t seem to really need it, headed around to the Bench, climbed a couple of stairs and assumed his seat, rearranging the notepads and other things that had been set back there for him. It lasted for almost three minutes until he looked up, eyeing all of you still standing and waiting.

“Good,” he said. “You may sit.”

You all sat, and you wondered how many kids, or other college students, had fallen for that simple little trick.

“Good morning everyone,” Judge Mathews said, gesturing you forward. “I’ll be presiding over your case for the next few days. Could counsel please introduce themselves?” He looked pointedly over to the Plaintiffs.

“Your Honour,” Tucker said, quickly standing up. “Tucker Jackson, representing the Plaintiff, joined by my friends Amanda Garcia, Samantha Van Der Groot, Thomas Malberry, and Maeve Walker.”

The Judge nodded, Tucker sat, and Mathews looked over at you.