Now, don’t get too startled by the title—there was no actual murder in the Boundary Waters. But in this year’s Minnesota high school Mock Trial case, there was. The 2024-2025 season marks the 40th anniversary of high school Mock Trial in Minnesota, and to celebrate, a murder case has been chosen. While that might sound a bit dramatic, it’s actually the perfect fit for Mock Trial. Murder cases are exciting, filled with high stakes, emotional drama, and plenty of character development. Despite the dark theme, they create powerful courtroom moments, sparking heated arguments and debates. There’s a certain thrill to murder cases—particularly this year’s. And it’s a welcome change after last year’s case, which was…well, interesting, but not quite what many of us expected. When last year’s case was announced as “criminal,” I, like many others, was hoping for a murder. But instead, we got a case about pollution and a LOT of family drama. There was nothing bad about the case, but it definitely wasn’t the high-drama, high-stakes murder mystery we were hoping for. This year, however, the case delivers exactly that.
For those who aren’t familiar with Mock Trial, here’s a quick rundown. Each season begins with teams receiving a case, and then students are assigned roles—either as attorneys, witnesses, or other courtroom figures like bailiffs and timekeepers. Once roles are set, the real work begins. Witnesses develop their characters, memorize affidavits, and prepare for direct and cross-examinations. Every word they say matters—one slip-up can ruin the whole testimony. Meanwhile, attorneys create questions, arguments, and opening and closing statements designed to persuade the judge that their side of the case is the right one. There are defense teams and prosecution teams, each made up of three attorneys and three witnesses. Teams face off against each other in multiple 2-3 hour trials throughout the season, with the chance to advance to state and national competitions. The defense team aims to prove that there is reasonable doubt in the case, while the prosecution team aims to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. In the end, it’s not just about knowing the case; it’s about performing it well—presenting arguments, making your witnesses shine, and thinking on your feet. There are many valuable life skills one learns by participating in Mock Trial like public speaking, critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. While high school Mock Trial is a significant commitment, those who invest the time and effort can achieve extraordinary performances.
Now let’s get back to this year’s case. Being a murder mystery, it is especially exciting and juicy. To start off, there is the victim, Addison Rogers-Nelson, who is a wealthy investor in Dembones, a company run by Koren Noble, the defendant. Koren invited Addison, along with two other investors, Billie and Bobbie, on a camping trip to the Boundary Waters, hoping to secure more funding for the company, which was facing delays in FDA approval for its spinal tool. However, things took a dramatic turn when Billie injured their ankle, and both Billie and Bobbie had to leave the trip for a period of time to go to find a hospital. This left Koren and Addison alone at the campsite, where tensions rose during a heated argument over the financial future of Dembones. Addison, frustrated and angry, stormed off into the wilderness, and mysteriously was found dead by a ranger in the early morning the next day. The circumstances of his death remain unclear—did Koren, under financial strain and angered by the argument, have a motive to kill Addison? Or was it an accident, with Addison’s lack of hiking experience contributing to his demise? Additionally, could another party have been involved…maybe an alternate killer? There is much uncertainty throughout this case due to conflicting narratives and unclear evidence, which provides a challenge to both the prosecution and the defense to piece together the truth behind Addison’s death.
