Mock Trial Tournament
Santa Clara County Bar Association
Law Related Education Committee
31 North Second Street, 4th floor
San Jose, CA 95113
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FEBRUARY 2, 2009
ARSON, FIRST AMENDMENT AT ISSUE
IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
MOCK TRIAL TOURNAMENT
Contact:
Mark Shem: 408.535.0870
Angela Storey: 408.292.1765
Approximately 400 Santa Clara County high school students will get a taste of
courtroom drama in the 2009 High School Mock Trial Tournament.
The students will act as prosecutors and defense attorneys trying People
v. Lane, a case that includes First Amendment issues and allegations of
arson.
Leslie Lane, a resident of the town of Woodville, led a rally opposing the
presence of a spiritual movement called the New Believers in Woodville. At that
rally, Lane performed a violent rap song called “Burn ‘Em Out” and lit an effigy
of a New Believer on fire. A short time later, a large fire broke out on the New
Believers’ property, and police arrested Lane nearby.
Lane has been charged with incitement to riot and arson.
Students will present their case before a sitting Santa Clara County judge.
Attorneys from across the county participate as team coaches, while others
donate their time to score students’ presentations.
Preliminary rounds will be held Feb. 3, 5, 10 and 12, with elimination rounds
Feb. 23 and 24. The top two teams will meet in the final round Feb. 25, 2009,
with the winner advancing to the State Finals.
The tournament, put on by the Santa Clara County Office of Education and the
Santa Clara County Bar Association, offers students the opportunity to
experience the criminal justice system up close and provides positive role
models in the field of law.
Preliminary and elimination rounds will be conducted at the Santa Clara
County Downtown Superior Courthouse located at 191 North First Street, San Jose.
The final round will take place at the “Old Courthouse” at 161 North First
Street, San Jose. All trials begin at 6 p.m. Members of the public are welcome.
For further information, see
www.sccmocktrial.org.
Date last updated: February 2, 2009
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