County Mock Trial Contest Narrows Down to 4

Wearing business suits and their best courtroom demeanors, more than 350 high school students converged on the Hall of Justice this week for the 19th annual Ventura County Mock Trial competition.

During two nights of marathon legal maneuvers, 18 scholastic teams from throughout the county presented a fictitious criminal case before real-life judges, while panels of practicing attorneys scored them on how convincingly they played the roles of prosecutors, defense lawyers, bailiffs and witnesses.

By the time the preliminary rounds concluded at 10 p.m. Tuesday, the field had been narrowed to four high schools: Ventura’s Buena and Thousand Oaks’ La Reina, Thousand Oaks and Westlake. The winning team, which advances to the state championships in San Jose next month, will be named after the “final four” square off again tonight.

Like many of the parents and professionals who watched the students make motions, offer up objections and deliver impassioned closing arguments, Christine Harrison, the faculty advisor for Westlake High School’s team, marveled at the transformation the teenagers underwent once they entered the courtrooms.

“Giggly little 16-year-olds will start striding and turn into these poised, confident, well-spoken attorneys,” Harrison said. “To watch some of these girls go from shy, retiring types to speaking about the Constitution with the judge for 10 minutes is very satisfying.”

Members of La Reina’s team, last year’s defending champions, said they were relieved to be among the finishers. The school has won the county contest eight times in the last 11 years, and the perennial powerhouse felt extra pressure from its rivals.

“We know people come in trying to beat us,” said La Reina senior Sanda Heinz, 17.

“We’ll be back on Thursday to kick lips,” added teammate Cory Tripp.

Coupling the theatrics of drama club with the rivalry of athletic contests, mock trial is an extracurricular activity meant to foster teenagers’ appreciation for the American legal system while improving their public speaking and critical thinking skills.

Local participants have been preparing their arguments, testimony and strategies since October with the help of volunteer attorney coaches, many of whom attended this week’s event with the wrinkled brows of nervous stage mothers.

“So often all we hear about are the negative things about teenagers, but when you come here and participate, you get to see the positive side of young kids who work and sacrifice and come together as a team,” said Larry Levine, a civil attorney who helps coach the La Reina team. “It’s soul food.”

In addition to the team competition, students vied for individual awards in categories ranging from best prosecutor and best courtroom artist to best witness and best defense attorney. His unflappable performance as a district attorney earned Matt Lee, a Newbury Park High School sophomore, the Outstanding Prosecutor title. But after he accepted his trophy from Ventura County Schools Supt. Chuck Weis, the 15-year-old was trembling with joy.

“I enjoyed all of it, but especially at the end of the case, just being able to discuss the evidence and the judge’s rulings with the other teams,” said Matt, who, like many of the competitors, hopes to pursue a legal career.

This year’s make-believe case, “People vs. Price,” involved such current issues as eco-terrorism and criminal profiling. The make-believe defendant was a community college student accused of setting fire to a ski lodge based on circumstantial evidence that police seized from her truck and house.