Ayala High team takes on the law in Mock Trial competition

  • A team from Ayala High School in Chino Hills is one of 34 teams competing this fall in the 36th annual San Bernardino County Mock Trial competition.

    The Mock Trial, sponsored by San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office, simulates a criminal case where students portray the principal courtroom characters on the defense and prosecution sides of a case before a real judge. This year’s trial is People v. Davidson, a murder case featuring a pre-trial argument on the Fourth Amendment.

    More than 400 students from 30 high schools in the county taking part in this year’s event.

    Ayala High’s team won its first round, against a team from Barstow High, on Nov. 1 at the Foothill Law and Justice Center in Rancho Cucamonga. Ayala’s second round will be against Rialto High, 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in room 10 of the Foothill Law and Justice Center, 8303 N. Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga. The competition is open to the public.

    Members of Ayala’s Mock Trial Prosecution Team are: Eric Weng, Daniella Kim (team secretary), Elizabeth Hagman (team treasurer), Ansh Trivedi, Morgan Yen (team president), Danielle Joseph, Kayla Kim, Mark Alonzo, and Linda Contreras. Members of the Defense Team are:  Nathan Shim, Gavin Stark (team vice president), Iris Wang, Lesly Orozco, Corina Joseph, Josiah Wang, Adrian Cortez, Paul Kim, and Kaitlyn Baltazar. Ayala High teacher Taylor Clark is the Mock Trial Team advisor.

    The San Bernardino County Mock Trial competition is being held at three locations: the county courthouse in Victorville, the Foothill Law and Justice Center in Rancho Cucamonga, and the San Bernardino Justice Center. The next three of four preliminary rounds are scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Nov. 8, 15, and 29.

    The top four teams from the preliminaries will advance to semifinals at 5:00 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6 at the San Bernardino Justice Center, 247 W. Third St. The finals are scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Dec. 9 at the Foothill Law and Justice Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

    The winner of the county competition will advance to state finals in March.

     

    (11/6/17)