SAN JOSE, CA – On February 13, 2024, the defense team from Fremont Union High School District’s Lynbrook High School defeated the prosecution team from Campbell Union High School District’s Prospect High School in the championship round of the Santa Clara County High School Mock Trial Tournament. The winning team advances to the state championship in March.
The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE), in partnership with the Santa Clara County Bar Association and the Santa Clara County Superior Court, sponsors the Santa Clara County High School Mock Trial Tournament which gives students an authentic trial experience. Each year, high school teams study a hypothetical case that the Constitutional Rights Foundation provides. A team of nine to 25 students prepares to defend or prosecute the case and fulfill the roles of pretrial attorneys, prosecutors, defense attorneys, witnesses, and court staff.
“Congratulations to the students of Lynbrook High School for their win. Students participating in Mock Trial develop skills that can help them succeed in their future careers and academics,” said Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools. “I’d also like to thank the Santa Clara County Bar Association, Santa Clara County Superior Court, attorney coaches, and staff for their hard work in coordinating this meaningful program for students.”
Twenty-one public and private high schools competed December through February at the SCCOE office in San Jose. The final round took place at Santa Clara County Superior Court’s Old Courthouse in downtown San Jose. The tournament was presided over by sitting superior court judges and was scored by hundreds of local attorneys.
In this year’s hypothetical case, People v. Clark, Tobie Clark who works as in-house counsel for Sunshine Medical Components, Inc. (“SMC”) is charged with the homicide of SMC’s Chief Executive Officer Kieran Sunshine. The prosecution argued that Clark should be convicted of first-degree murder. The defense argued that Clark did not have a motive to kill Kieran and furthermore never had the intent to murder.
Lynbrook High School’s team will now advance to the state championship in Los Angeles, hosted by
Teach Democracy, formally the Constitutional Rights Foundation, March 22-24, 2024.
Additionally, Prospect High School’s Hylim Lee, won the 2024 Santa Clara County Courtroom Artist Contest. Jhun Madriaga, Administrative Assistant for the SCCOE School Climate, Leadership and Instructional Services Department, received the Johnny Gogo Award for his commitment to promoting and coordinating the mock trial program for the SCCOE. Sonia Rebelo, teacher and coach, from Gunderson High School was also inducted into the Coaches Hall of Fame.
2024 Lynbrook High School Mock Trial Team
Winning Art Entry
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About the Santa Clara County Office of Education
The SCCOE is a premier service organization driven by the core principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and partnership. For more information about the Santa Clara County Office of Education, please visit
www.sccoe.org
