2025 Ohio High School Mock Trial State Championship

Watch Archbishop Hoban High School and Sylvania Southview High School compete in the 2025 Ohio Mock Trial State Championship!

Denver Saidi v. Wyatt Latu: Denver Saidi, principal of Trillium High School and candidate for city council, becomes concerned when a deepfake video featuring their speech at the Snow Ball Dance begins circulating online and damages their campaign. Saidi has filed a lawsuit for defamation against Trillium student Wyatt Latu, who used a generative AI app to create the video, and simultaneously seeks a preliminary injunction from the court to have the offending video taken down.

00:00 - Introduction
00:27 - Bailiff Call-to-order
01:03 - Presiding Judge Introduction & Bias Statement
03:00 - Plaintiff (Archbishop Hoban HS) Introduction & Opening Statement
08:10 - Defense (Sylvania Southview HS) Introduction & Opening Statement
13:26 - Swearing-in of Witnesses
14:06 - Direct Examination of Plaintiff Denver Saidi w/ Objections (Speculation, Improper Character attack, Hearsay (x2))
28:30 - Cross Examination of Plaintiff Denver Saidi w/ Objection (Argumentative)
36:56 - Re-Direct
37:53 - Direct Examination of Witness Theo Ngoma w/ Expert Recognition & Objections (Lack of Foundation, Improper Legal Opinion)
50:59 - Cross Examination of Witness Theo Ngoma w/ Objections (Relevance (x3), Asked & Answered)
1:06:26 - Direct Examination of Defendant Wyatt Latu w/ Objections (Relevance, Hearsay, Improper Character evidence)
1:20:33 - Cross Examination of Defendant Wyatt Latu w/ Objections (Improper Character attack, Asked & Answered)
1:27:27 - Re-Direct
1:28:08 - Direct Examination of Witness Emery Popovic w/ Expert Recognition & Objection (Improper Expert opinion)
1:40:07 - Cross Examination of Witness Emery Popovic
1:50:13 - Re-Direct
1:51:55 - Plaintiff Closing Argument
1:56:51 - Defense Closing Argument
2:02:02 - Plaintiff Rebuttal
2:05:43 - Judging Panel Comments
2:24:09 - Award Presentation & Winner Announced

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Produced by The Ohio Channel and filmed at the Ohio Judicial Center on March 8, 2025.