Before the court

MENLO SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL TEAM HONORED. The San Mateo County Bar Association, the San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association and the San Mateo County Office of Education sponsored the Annual Law Day Luncheon May 3 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Burlingame. The event honored the San Mateo County high school students who participated in the Constitutional Rights Foundation’s Mock Trial Program during the 2011-12 school year. San Mateo County attorneys hosted all members of the Menlo School team, which placed first in the San Mateo County competition and fifth in the state competition, and five members from each of the other San Mateo County teams.

In 1980, the Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) created the Mock Trial program to help students acquire a working knowledge of the judicial system, develop analytical abilities and communication skills and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of society.

Each year, CRF creates and produces a new set of Mock Trial materials based on an important issue facing America’s youth. The materials include a hypothetical criminal case (including summaries of case law, witness statements, official exhibits and simplified rules of evidence); lesson plans on the central issues in the case; and competition rules and guidelines.

With the assistance of a teacher-sponsor and attorney coach, CRF’s Mock Trial program engages more than 8,000 student-participants across the state of California. Students actively experience the excitement of working in teams, exchanging ideas, setting goals, and examining issues while interacting with positive role models from their communities. By studying the case and preparing strategies and arguments for trial, students also develop presentation skills, analytic ability and team cooperation.

Cases are released to all California counties in the early fall. Typically, a county competition occurs in late fall or early spring, with anywhere from two to six rounds of trials. The winners of the county competitions go on to the State Finals in March. In May, the winner of the state competition represents California at the annual National High School Mock Trial Competition, involving teams from 54 states and territories. Each year thousands of members from California’s bar and bench volunteer their time to make the Mock Trial an educational and exciting experience for students. Attorneys serve in a variety of roles, acting as team coaches, scoring and presiding over trials.

The Mock Trial program allows students to develop the skills necessary for the mastery of state content standards for history and social science. Through performance-based education, the program furthers an understanding of both the content and processes of the legal system; increases basic skills, analytical ability and self-confidence; and promotes cooperation among students of various cultures and interests.

The guest speaker at the May 3 Law Day Luncheon was Peter G. Keane, dean emeritus of Golden Gate University School of Law and a former Chief Assistant Public Defender in San Francisco.

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YOU BE THE JUDGE. Miranda rights. Three Strikes You’re Out. Direct and Circumstantial Evidence. What does it all mean? To help young people learn more about the court system and the role that judges play in the criminal justice process, the San Mateo County Superior Court has developed "The Case of One Thing Leading to Another.” This interactive exercise for use in high schools outlines the facts of a criminal case (based on a real case in San Mateo County) and includes questions that teachers can use in the classroom to facilitate discussion. The case can be found on the court website at www.sanmateocourt.org/general_info/community_outreach/case_study. After a class reviews this exercise, a judge from the San Mateo County Superior court can come to the participating school and discuss this and other court issues. If you are interested in having a judge come to your high school, or have any questions about this project, please contact Judge Mark R. Forcum at 363-7835 or at mforcum@sanmateocourt.org.

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FREE LAW TALKS. Upcoming in the free Noontime Lecture Series (noon-1 p.m.) at the San Mateo County Law Library are June 14: Dealing with Contractors; July 12: Veterans Services and Benefits; and Aug. 9: Advanced Health Care Directives. 710 Hamilton St. Redwood City. 363-4913. www.SMCLL.org.

Susan E. Cohn is a member of the State Bar of California. She may be contacted at susan@smdailyjournal.com.