Mock trial helps campers learn about BP oil spill

Terrebonne Parish courthouse has been home to both civil and criminal cases, but they aren’t usually run by kids.

The South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center’s (SLWDC) summer science class made a last-minute decision to host a mock trial in the courtroom annex Friday to enable its campers to get a glimpse of what’s been unfolding in real courtrooms regarding the oil spill disaster.

SLWDC science camp is split into levels 1 and 2, done consecutively, and gives campers the opportunity to get an introduction of the wetlands and the issues related to it, complete with various field trips with hands-on experience including dissecting crawfish and levee tours.

The mock trial had to be pulled together fast.

“We were supposed to have hunter safety, but Wildlife and Fisheries is caught up with the oil spill so they weren’t able to do that,” said Leah Gautreaux of the SLWDC. “We literally came up with this last week. I wish we had more time, but I would say we were able to give them only about five hours total to put this together.”

Even with ample time to practice and write out their questions and responses, the SLWDC campers still put on a thorough trial in front of an audience of family and friends-including Judge Glynn F. Voisin and Judge Randall L. Bethancourt, who coached the campers throughout the trial.

Overseeing the trial was Patrick Voisin, son of Judge Voisin, who was dressed in judge robes for the trial.

“It was actually luck of the draw that he got that position,” Gautreaux said, and explained the campers were assigned positions by picking from a hat.

But Patrick was happy to take the job.

“It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be,” Patrick, 13, said, who sometimes gets to watch his father in court in the summertime.

“They learned a little bit about the oil spill and the ramifications that it does to our land, and I thought they did a really good job,” Bethancourt said after the trial was over.

The mock trial, The Wetlands of Louisiana vs. Man Made and Natural Disasters, lasted approximately an hour and had multiple witnesses with names like “Zan D. Beach” and “O.L. Spill.” The witnesses were sworn in, questioned and cross-examined by their peers. The lawyers even submitted a jar of real oil from the spill as evidence in court.

The jury had a 20-minute deliberation after the court completed the questioning.

“After examining all the evidence and hearing the testimonies from both the prosecution and defense, we the jury find the defendant Martha N. Ature and C. Rudal Drilman guilty as charged,” announced the jury.

Damages of $10 million were awarded to the plaintiff.

“We thought that this would be an interesting way for them to get to understand some of the things that are going on in the oil spill, and understand some of the problems that we face in losing wetlands to hurricanes, and bring it all together,” Gautreaux said. “They were all really into it and I’m really proud of them.”