The Mock Trial team has begun their season. As one of the biggest academic teams at NDB, it is open to all grades and competes against local schools in a courtroom setting. This year, participants will be arguing “People v. Clark,” a murder case where the defendant Tobie Clark has been charged with killing his business partner Keiren Sunshine. The team is excited to learn more about the case and start practicing for their competitions in January and February.

“I joined Mock Trial because … I had seen how much fun it was for everyone else and how much it developed their public speaking skills and their overall writing skills. I thought that was important,” said sophomore and Pretrial Attorney Evelyn Fox.

Participants have several roles. One is to be a part of the pretrial team where attorneys make a statement at the beginning of the trial, discussing what evidence can be used. Another is to be a trial attorney on the defense or prosecution, challenging or representing the defendant, questioning witnesses about their statements and convincing the judge of the defendant’s guilt or innocence. Another is to be a witness, going up in front of all the people in the courtroom and being asked questions by attorneys about their statements.

All of the students in practice two times a week and, depending on the role that they have, times can vary. But, the long hours and hard work certainly pay off. In 2020, the team made it to the San Mateo County finals.

“I get to work with tons of people that I wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to, and I get to see how they put their awesome skills into action when it comes to their presentation abilities,” said Mock Trial Coach Jonathan Tomczak. “It’s great to see their critical analysis and how it all works to serve the greater purpose of the team while also coming together and making friends that maybe they didn’t expect. That’s always my favorite part, getting to see these wonderful people do their thing.”