After months of unwavering dedication and meticulous preparation, the NDB Mock Trial Team stepped into the Superior Court of California in Redwood City for the 43rd Annual California Mock Trial Competition. There, they presented their arguments for this year’s case: People v. Clark.
In this case, the State has charged Tobie Clark with the first-degree murder of a multi-billion dollar company’s CEO. What seemed like a two-hour movie of exceptional acting, compelling arguments and a roller coaster of legal drama in the courtroom was the result of the collaboration and resilience of the team over the past five and a half months.
Since August, the team has been dissecting the intricacies of the case, constructing arguments and embracing the identities of legal personas.
Each team member had the opportunity to explore the roles of a pretrial and trial attorney, bailiff, courtroom artist or journalist, witness and timekeeper.
Following a thorough investigation of the case, they were strategically assigned positions in the Showcase team as well as JV and Varsity Defense and Prosecution teams.
The teams met for practice every Monday and Wednesday after school, and meetings were held for attorneys working on their arguments and objections on Friday afternoons.
The team participated in scrimmages throughout the season against other Bay Area schools, including Burlingame HS, Crystal Springs and Saint Ignatius HS. They tested out their material, worked on their courtroom presence and received constructive feedback from other teams’ coaches and attorney judges.
While the team worked immensely on this year’s case, it was never that simple. Team members juggled sports, Tri-School productions, college applications and other extracurricular commitments while navigating the demands of school. They supported each other through their demanding schedules and grown close throughout the process.
“As someone new to Mock Trial this year, I felt worried about how I would be received by the team members, but everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming to me because they genuinely wanted me to learn and succeed,” said senior Katie Homrig. “I think this team is so rare because these girls care for and uplift each other in a very inspiring way. I love walking into a courtroom knowing that the two attorneys next to me will help me in whatever way I need and that I will do the same for them.”
Round One of the trials began on January 25, followed by round two on February 1 and then round three on February 8. The JV and Varsity teams competed against several San Mateo Country schools, including Hillsdale HS, Menlo, and the combined Serra/Mercy HS team.
The Tiger support for each other was instrumental when it came to entering the courtroom and presenting their arguments to an actual judge.
“There’s something to be said about just knowing that the people beside you are there not only to do their best, but to push you and help you in any moment or way possible,” said junior Maggie Templeton. “As someone who tends to take every little mistake and slip-up a little too seriously, the support we have for each other comes through after trial, especially when we debrief, congratulate and discuss every triumphant moment and great argument we saw the others put forth.”
The team has cultivated a mindset that goes beyond diligence. They have adopted the philosophy of not only working hard, but also deriving genuine enjoyment from the task at hand. This attitude comes from Mock Trial Coach Jonathan Tomczak’s mantra, echoed at every practice: “Enjoy every mo- ment. Win every moment.”
Although the Mock Trial Team’s season is coming to a close, some students will perform in the team’s Showcase Trial in March.
