OAKHURST — Yosemite High School’s acclaimed Mock Trial team took second place in Madera County at the Honorable Edward P. Moffat Mock Trial, held Dec. 5 – 8, 2012.
Liberty High School garnered first place at the competition and Minarets High School took third.Mock Trial is an extracurricular school activity that culminates in an imitation trial, in this instance held at the Sierra Courthouse in Bass Lake and at the Madera Courthouse. YHS has participated and dominated the competition for over 20 years.
Coached by YHS teacher Deborah Brown, the team consisted of Erin Asis, Victoria Bartunek, Allie Boyer, Margaret Brewer, Daman Gill, Libby Haggard, Kylie Johnson, Christopher Kanaley, Michael Leath, Emma Madsen, Robin Meister, Tara Neill, Sue Sullivan, Nicole Tapia, Matthew Whitecotton, Christian Wick and Sonia Yousfi.
In Mock Trial, high school students portray each of the principals in a courtroom trial, including counsel, witnesses, court clerks and bailiffs. Prior to competition, teams of students study a hypothetical case, conduct legal research and receive coaching in courtroom procedure and trial preparation.
The YHS team competed in a series of appearances on a case entitled People vs. Vega, in which a fictitious prominent figure was accused of hit and run. The defense claimed the defendant had not been properly given his “Miranda rights,” referring to a famous 1966 case, Miranda vs. Arizona and 5th Amendment rights. The defendant, who was accused of striking a cyclist, was accused of texting while driving.
Liberty High will go on to represent Madera County at the national level in March.
