LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Lamorinda Law Professionals Needed for Mock Trial


Miramonte's award-winning 2016 Mock Trial team. Photo provided

Lamorinda soon-to-be, practicing, and retired law professionals are needed to provide assistance to their future brethren at the upcoming 36th Annual Contra Costa County High School Mock Trial Program, held in the early evenings throughout the month of February, at the Martinez Court Rooms. Last year, 120 Bay Area practicing and retired attorneys and sworn judges, as well as third-year law students volunteered their time with the Mock Trials.

Coordinated by the Contra Costa County Office of Education, Mock Trial is an academic event provided for high school students. The hands-on educational program was created to help students acquire a working knowledge of the judicial system, develop analytical abilities and communication skills, and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of our society. This year's grabbed-from-the-local-and-national-headlines case, the People v. Awbrey, is a trial about human trafficking and false imprisonment. The pretrial issue involves the Fourth and Fifth Amendments, namely protection against illegal search and seizure and against self-incrimination.

Teams of high school students work with teachers and volunteer coaches to prepare their version of the criminal case, from both the prosecution and defense perspectives. Students assume the roles of trial attorneys, pretrial motion attorneys, witnesses, clerks, bailiffs, artists, and court journalists. Mock Trial judges and attorneys score their performance and provide immediate feedback. Winning teams advance through seven rounds of competition. The county's champion advances to the State finals. This year, there will be 18 Contra Costa County high school Mock Trial teams competing.

Teams from 17 Contra Costa County high schools will be competing, including Acalanes, Campolindo, and the award-wining Miramonte.

Mock Trial will be headquartered at the A.F. Bray Courthouse, 1020 Ward Street, in Martinez. Interested volunteers can learn more by visiting the CCCOE's Mock Trial web page at http://www.cccoe.k12.ca.us/supe/events/tforms.htm, or contacting Jonathan Lance at (925) 942-3429.