FVHS Mock Trial won their third out of four rounds against Foothill Gold last Thursday.
Students in Mock Trial are given a case packet each year, for which they play the roles of attorneys, witnesses, clerks, and bailiffs. They compete with other schools in the Santa Ana Courthouse, in front of real judges and attorneys. Their score is based on how they present themselves and the case, not the verdict.
Because they will be in the top 16 of 36, the team will be continuing on to the playoffs, and from there, sudden death determines the victor for each round. Orange County’s top team will then go to state.
A full team is split into prosecution and defense, with the two sides switching off every competition. Each side has 4 attorneys, 4 witnesses, and either a clerk or bailiff. In addition to that, schools may bring artists and journalists to submit their work after each competition.
Pauline Nguyen (14’) is the current team captain and the defense’s leading attorney.
“I’m really proud of how our team has done this year,” she said. “ We’ve gone through a lot of difficulties, like when many of our members quit through the season this year, but we’ve managed to bounce back. And now we’re going to playoffs!”
“I enjoy being with a lot of people, feeling the energy around me,” said first-year member Vi Pham (’15). “Even if we don’t win, I feel like I’ve accomplished something.”
By Debbie Chen
Wow that is awesome
Cool!