MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — Yosemite High School won the 2023 Honorable Edward P. Moffat Madera County Mock Trial held on February 8, 9, 15, and 16, 2023.
Yosemite High’s defense and Madera South High School’s prosecution teams competed in the championship round held on Thursday, February 16. Yosemite won the competition and will attend the State Mock Trial on behalf of Madera County on March 17-19.
Matilda Torres High School and Minarets High School also participated in the mock trial.
Dr. Cecilia Massetti.
“What an exciting year of competition,” said Dr. Cecilia Massetti, Madera County Superintendent of Schools. “The competition was fierce! All students did a great job and rose to the challenges set before them!”
Madera County will also be sending two courtroom artists to the state competition. Beyonce Ramos, from Madera South High School, earned first place and Kayla Gonzalez Ruz, from Matilda Torres High School, earned second place. They are both eligible to represent Madera County at the state mock trial. Both artists depicted a courtroom scene during the first round of competition on Wednesday, February 8.
“We are excited to have student artists from Madera South and Matilda Torres join Yosemite High to represent Madera County at the state competition,” said Dr. Massetti. “We believe in our Madera County champions and know they will shine at the next level of competition.”
Courtroom Artist Beyonce Ramos.
During the fictional case People vs. Franks, Jordan Franks was tried for robbery and battery of Franks’ fellow actor, Billie Scher. Mock trial students also discussed the Fourth Amendment during the pretrial argument.
The mock trial is a simulation of a criminal court case in which the students act as attorneys, witnesses, bailiffs, and clerks. A Madera County judge presided over each trial and attorneys from throughout the Central Valley scored the students’ performance.
Judges Dale Blea, Ernest LiCalsi, Katherine Rigby, and Sosi Vogt presided over the trials. All teams competed in four rounds of competition and argued against each participating school.
Volunteers were encouraged to nominate students they felt did an exceptional job during the trials. The highest scoring students earned honorable mention and outstanding student ribbons.
Madera County Courthouse.
Yosemite team members competing in the state competition included Cody Aleshire, Logan Beaumont, Maddie Davidson, Bill Gao, Evelyn Golden, Lora Holladay, Jane Irion, Lucy Pierce, Eefke Radeleff, Justin Roussell, Alison Shockley, Lucas Simms, Ava Stanley, and Lucas Wade. The team was coached by Thomas Skahill and local attorney Nanette Beaumont.
Yosemite High School has competed for all 39 years of competition in Madera and has won 32 times.
Each team was coached by local attorneys as well as teachers in preparation for the trial. Madera South High School was coached by Rickie Hernandez and attorney Noah Marshall. Matilda Torres High School was coached by Alexis Cruz and Mikendra McCoy. Minarets High School was coached by William Gearheart.
The mock trial and other student academic events are supported by Madera County Superintendent of Schools and Madera County Schools Foundation through community and business donations and volunteers. Madera County Superior Court co-sponsored the mock trial. California Rights Foundation provided the trial cases.
Outstanding Awards
Prosecution Witness: Maddie Davidson, Yosemite High School.
Prosecution Witness: Kimberly Vega, Matilda Torres High School.
Prosecution Pretrial Attorney: Angela Llamas, Matilda Torres High School.
Prosecution Attorney: Ariana Mendoza, Madera South High School.
Defense Pretrial Attorney: Bill Gao, Yosemite High School.
Defense Attorney: Mackenzie Mellenberger, Matilda Torres High School.
Defense Attorney: Lucas Wade, Yosemite High School.
Defense Witness: Aiden Feskhorn, Minarets High School.
Defense Witness: Cody Aleshire, Yosemite High School.
Honorable Mention Awards
Prosecution Witness: Morgan Fiala, Minarets High School.
Prosecution Pretrial Attorney: Jane Irion, Yosemite High School.
Prosecution Attorney: Mackenzie Mellenberger, Matilda Torres High School.
Defense Attorney: Jane Irion, Yosemite High School.
Defense Pretrial Attorney: Isha Herrera, Matilda Torres High School.
Defense Witness: Alison Shockley, Yosemite High School.
Check out this short video on tips for mock trial witnesses!
