Groove agent 4 trial8/17/2023 “They are getting practice being in front of adults and their peers,” said Jessica Bacchus, a teacher at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek who serves as the team coach for Miramonte’s Mock Trial. Because the competitions aren’t closely scripted there is a great deal of spontaneity that pushes students to draw on what they’ve learned about their characters in order to be convincing. The competition teaches disciplined thinking, which comes in handy no matter what profession students aspire to, Ellis said. It takes a lot of work, and it’s telling a different kind of story.” “I really enjoyed working with that range of kids, ages 14 to 18, who have no experience with the law other than maybe what they would see in the media.”Īlthough Mock Trial appeals to performing arts students as well as future law students, Ellis said, “The dramatic things we see in TV or read about law, they tend to just hit the highlights or low points. “After the first year, I was just sold on it,” he said. The experienced trial lawyer, who helped to won a $10.6 million wrongful death suit connected to the 2004 Walnut Creek pipeline explosion, has always been drawn to teaching, having received his bachelor’s degree in education before attending law school at UC Berkeley. ![]() Miramonte students are practicing now for the county competition that begins in February, to be followed by the state contest in March.Įllis, who moved to Orinda 24 years ago, believes in the benefits of Mock Trial so much that he sent all three of his children through the program. Students study the basics of a given case and the pertinent rules of law before taking on the roles of prosecutor, defense attorney, witnesses, courtroom journalist, sketch artists and other characters. Northgate, Antioch, Dougherty Valley, College Park and Alhambra have Mock Trial teams, as well. The teenager received a citation alleging that he was texting while driving, but the youngster said he was only changing the song on his iPod and he hopes to convince a judge to dismiss the case.Īll four Acalanes Union High School District Schools participate in Mock Trial, Las Lomas in Walnut Creek having started this year. The articulate youngster plans to draw on his newfound ability to make persuasive arguments when he appears in traffic court soon to fight a ticket. “A lot of people don’t understand how technical law is,” Robinson said. They say the lessons they are learning about character development and problem solving in Mock Trial will help them become better actors and more informed citizens. Hallett and 17-year-old Rob Robinson, who transferred to Miramonte last year just to participate in the 21-member team, hope to pursue performing arts in college and beyond. “But when it comes down to it, he makes the right decision that is best for the team.” “He tried to work everyone into the roles they wanted,” said 18-year-old senior Rachel Hallett, named one of the state’s top defense witnesses last season. With Ellis as their guide, the school’s team has won the county competition nine out of the last 10 years, and hope to take the state title this year. Luke Ellis of Orinda, who has 35 years of practicing law under his belt, plays mentor every winter to an ambitious group of Miramonte High students preparing for another tough season of Mock Trial. In this way all vstsound files can be installed by a single double-click.What can aspiring teenage actors learn from a veteran personal injury attorney? Why, a flair for the dramatic, of course.
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