On February 25th, 2020 Oroville High school, Las Plumas High School, and Hearthstone met at Butte County Courthouse in Oroville. Students have been preparing for this case since September, and overall, the entire trial was a wonderful educational experience for all of the kids. 

 

Thank you to all of the Honorable Judges Tamara L. Mosbarger, Clare Keithley and Jesus Rodriguez presided over the trial competitions. Scoring was done by local volunteer attorneys Desiree Vance, Roger Wilson, Dave Garner, JJ Star-Modlin, Pancho Zarate, Rob Radcliffe, Mark Stapleton, Sharon Stover and Adam Insul. WIthout everyone's help and consideration this event wouldn't have gone as well as it did!

 

Las Plumas High School won the 2020 Butte County Mock Trial held at the Butte County Superior Court in Oroville on February 25, 2020. The team scored 955 points to earn the County title this year. The competition involved 3 participating high schools: Hearthstone, Oroville High School and Las Plumas High School. The Las Plumas High School Mock Trial team will now advance to represent Butte County at the California State Mock Trial Competition on March 21-22 in Los Angeles. 

 

Las Plumas High School’s team included Chloe Bryant, Hailey Gramps, Monica Reynoso, Emily Pierce, Tyler Yor, Miranda Shippey, Olivia Smith-Sheets, Madison Mohr, Ashley Dequito, Nya Belcastro, Alyna Flores, Valerie Kelley, Mitsa Xayavongsa, Jasmyn Terry, Bryken Bill and Charlie Whalley. The team was coached by Bret Lawson. Deputy District Attorney Erika Romo mentored the team weekly prior to the event.

Hearthstone ranked second of three, behind Las Plumas High School, and ahead of Oroville High School, and Hearthstone's Drama Dragons took home EIGHT special accolades for individual performances including:

 

Fey Febbo: Best Closing Argument

 

Justin Bishop: Best Opening Argument

 

Russel Bozarth: Detective Micha Eisenberg performance

 

Eloise Gonzales: Dr. Amari Wolpert performance (FIRST theatrical performance!)

 

Kaylee Jacobsen: Casey Silber performance (FIRST acting performance!)

 

Austin Driver: Dr. Jules Jackson performance (the judge and lawyers LOVED him!)

 

Lex Wroten: Best Baliff AND Best Desi Kunsler performance (we all though desi "did it"!!)(The murder, that is!)

 

Oroville High School also deserves recognition, there team did an amazing job! The students on the team include: Anthony Rodriguez, Avalon Vang, Pa Ying Yang, Haley Saephan, Jesus Navarro, Axel Amador, Marcie Wright, and Angel Thao. All of them did their best competing against the other two schools. 

 

Every student who participated in this event is a winner! There were so many things that all of these students learned and studied that even most adults don't know about. So give these hardworking kids the credit they deserve. Thank you again to all the volunteers and students for participating. We hope to see you again next year!

 

The Mock Trial competition simulates a trial-level proceeding in which students play the roles of pretrial counsel, prosecuting and defense attorneys, witnesses, court clerks, and bailiffs before a single presiding judge and two to three scoring judges who score individuals based on their legal arguments and presentations.

 

Each year, unique cases are developed and presented to create powerful learning experiences on the rule of law and our judicial system. Materials are based on important issues facing America's youth. Mock Trial materials include a hypothetical criminal case (summaries of case law, witness statements, official exhibits, simplified rules of evidence) and lesson plans on the central issues in the case. Moot Court case topics engage youth in current-day dialog that encourage critical thinking about issues our communities are facing.

 

 

For the 2019-2020 California Mock Trial Team Rule-book

 

 

Check back for the full case brief

 

With the assistance of a Teacher Coach and an Attorney Coach, the Mock Trial and Competition actively engages students from local high schools. Students experience the excitement of working in teams, exchanging ideas, setting goals, and examining issues while interacting with positive role models from their communities. By studying the case and preparing strategies and arguments for trial, students also develop presentation skills, analytic ability, and team cooperation. A typical Mock Trial team consists of 8 to 20 students.