Alex Palmer was accused of murdering Jes Markson, and fifteen students from Sonoma Valley High School tried the case four times last week, twice on Friday and twice again on Saturday, as part of the 2008 California State Mock Trial Championship. Put on by the Constitutional Rights Foundation, this annual event featured 32 teams who were already county champions, competing against other for the honor of representing California at the National Championship in Delaware later this spring.
Arguing the case at the Riverside County Courthouse, the Sonoma team included five seniors (Kylee Adams, Dolan Casey, Kayla Cox, Scott Foreman, Toby Hammett), eight juniors (Nick Bremner, Alexa Carlson, Melissa Carlson, Lee Jasperse, Terry Main, Lauren Schorr, Eva-Marie Toimil, Aria Watson), and two freshman (Aaron Bremner, Julie Ea). Thanks to the outstanding efforts of teacher/coach Janet Hansen, the Sonoma team had already bested the several teams from Napa County high schools, making the students “bi-county” champions.
All high school teams nationwide have been trying the same case since last fall, sometimes as prosecutors “for the people” and other times as defense for the accused. Students fill the support roles of clerk and bailiff, argue a pre-trial motion regarding the admissibility of certain evidence, make opening statements, offer testimony as four witnesses, examine and cross-examine eight witnesses altogether (including the four “hostile” witnesses from the other team), and deliver closing arguments. Presiding over the individual trials are practicing attorneys or judges, who rule on points of law, sustain or overrule objections, and render a final verdict. The teams’ performances are scored by panels of attorneys on all aspects of the trial.
The Sonoma team placed 12th, even winning a rare conviction, and the students seemed pleased overall with their team’s performance. Hansen, who teaches English as well as one elective class in “Forensics” (speech), expressed pride in the team’s efforts all year, culminating in last week’s competition. She noted especially the contributions of the five seniors who have been in her program for four years. The Mock Trial Club, supported financially by the High School Boosters Club, is open to all students at the high school.
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