The Spanish mock trial performed by GPS students
photo by GPS
Inspired by both the Oscar-nominated movie The Woman in Gold, about a woman who sued Austria for the return on her family’s artwork stolen during WWII, and a study of artist Gustav Klimt’s portrait, the work taken by the Nazis, GPS students in a Spanish IV Honors class recreated similar legal proceedings in a mock trial at the Hamilton County Courthouse on Wednesday.
In the oldest courtroom in Hamilton County, used by Hamilton County Chancellor Jeffrey Atherton, the students debated, argued, presented evidence, and persuaded the student judge in the bench trial where all points of view were presented.
“The girls wrote the script, wore legal and period costumes, and were in character for the entire two-hour Mock Trial,” according to their teacher, Dr. Maria Carlone. Because it’s a Spanish class, the entire script was written and performed in nearly flawless Spanish.
After watching a sample mock trial on YouTube earlier in the month, the girls wrote arguments, detailed the various positions, conducted research, and practiced. They filled the roles of all witnesses and lawyers, often objecting to the judge and having their objections sustained or overruled.
Among the characters portrayed were Maria Altman, the Austrian woman who brought the suit; a museum curator, a Nazi familiar with the list of art stolen for the Reich’s museum; and the artist, Gustav Klimt. Klimt was presented as a contemporary even though he passed away before the historic legal proceedings.
“It is very hard to do what they are doing, especially in another language, and they have done beautifully,” says Dr. Carlone, who is also the World Languages Department chair at GPS. “The girls have not only learned a lot of Spanish, but they have learned about art and have learned about the judicial system in the U.S. It has been a wonderful interdisciplinary learning experience.”
Fine Arts Department Chair Cathie Kasch provided background about the artist’s life and the stolen portrait. Drama teacher Erin Schmidt provided costumes and taught techniques for voice projection and character development.
Special thanks to Chancellor Atherton and his staff for allowing the GPS class to experience the courtroom environment.
The Spanish mock trial performed by GPS students
photo by GPS