High School Students Compete in Mock Trial

High School Students Compete in Mock Trial COMMUNITY NEWS

Teams from Aptos, Harbor, Santa Cruz and Watsonville high schools advanced to the semi-finals of the 31st Annual Santa Cruz County Mock Trial Competition with the finals slated for the night of Feb. 20.

The winner will go to the state finals in Los Angeles March 20-22.

This year’s case People v. Matsumoto is the trial of Bailey Matsumoto, the founder of a technology start-up that develops autonomous (self-driving) trucks. Bailey is charged with the murder of Bailey’s spouse, Taylor Matsumoto.

This was the first time every comprehensive high school had a team in the competition, which started Feb. 5 and is coordinated by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education Student Support Services Department.

In all, nine high schools participated: Aptos, Harbor, Pacific Collegiate, Pajaro

Valley, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, San Lorenzo Valley, Soquel, and Watsonville.

Starting in 1980, the Constitutional Rights Foundation introduced the mock trail program to all the counties in California to give students the opportunity to learn about the judicial system, as they study a hypothetical case, develop analytical abilities and communication skills, and discover their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of our society.

They receive guidance from volunteer attorneys in courtroom procedures and trial preparation.

Thirteen local Santa Cruz County Superior Court judges volunteer to preside over the hearings and 40 local attorneys volunteer as competition scorers.

Support for the competition comes from Superior Court of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Department. n

“Kirby School” from page 5

“Kirby’s emphasis on bettering their student body beyond academics — toward creating individual leaders who are inspired to be active in their community — is what keeps Kirby School’s mission unique and genuinely admirable,” said Sahar Nangoli, 11th grader at Kirby School. Students volunteered at a range of organizations including Habitat for Humanity, SPCA, Second Harvest Food Bank, Elderday Elder Care Center, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve, Life Lab, Homeless Garden Project, Save Our Shores, and Coastal Watershed Council.

Some students did service projects close to campus, such as removing

invasive species from the Pogonip open space, which is directly behind the Kirby School.

“A day spent outside of the classroom — in service — is a small investment of time when compared to the incredible sense of empowerment a student feels as they gain a broader understanding of the social, environmental and other issues that impact our community and learn how to affect change,” said Christy Hutton, Kirby’s head of school.

“However, when every single student and all staff join together on the same day to work side by side, the sense of collective accomplishment elevates this day to a rather potent feeling of ‘together, we can change the world,’” she added. n

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