Auditions for the Mock Trial team took place from October 7 through October 11. Based on audition performances, prospective members were assigned either the role of lawyer or witness for the club’s trial competition in February.
This year, the team will be preparing for a trial involving drug distribution and murder.
Some students auditioned to play the role of the trial witness, Kai Mauer, while other’s applied to play the part of one of the lawyers. The trial team will be comprised of ten students. Once they are chosen, they will begin practicing 1 to 2 times a week from October to November.
Beginning in December, there will be 2 to 3 practices a week leading up to the actual trial taking place in February.
Senior co-captain Will Tamura is looking forward to the new trial season. “I am excited for all of the new people,” he said.
Junior co-captain Sarah Sweeney agreed. “I am looking forward to having a bunch of new team members,” she said.
Both Tamura and Sweeney hope that this team will be able to beat Miramonte and Acalanes as well as make it to the finals of the Contra Costa County competition. According to Tamura, they will need to work hard to achieve their goals. They will compete against about 16 other schools from Contra Costa County.
Senior Stephanie Zhong is looking forward to “getting more experience in how the legal system works.” After participating in Youth Government and simulating legal trials, Zhong became interested in the legal profession. She decided to audition after many of her friends told her about the team. Although she is not sure which position she will be playing, she is hoping to be a lawyer.
Junior Samantha Heckle also became interested in the legal system after participating in Youth Government and the National Judicial Program, a competitive program offered by the YMCA, as well as hearing about it from good friend and Mock Trial captain Sarah Sweeney.
After playing the lawyer at NJP, Heckle wanted to learn more about the profession. “I want to become a better lawyer or witness,” she said.
