September 7, 2021

Dear Students and Parents,

Welcome to Mock Trial class at the Wesley School and to the 44th Annual Los Angeles County Mock Trial Competition sponsored by the Constitutional Rights Foundation! It is with great excitement that I continue in my 21st year coaching Wesley students in this worthy endeavor. Hopefully this letter will answer some preliminary questions you may have.

What is Mock Trial?

Mock Trial is a statewide academic program in which junior and senior high schools compete in a simulated criminal courtroom trial. Approximately 2500 students from all participating schools study the same hypothetical case brief and witness statements, conduct legal research, learn courtroom procedure, and prepare both the prosecution and defense sides of their case. The students portray each of the principals in a cast of courtroom characters including lawyers, witnesses, bailiff, and clerk. Each trial is presided over by a judge and volunteer attorneys who score the competition. The competition also includes a courtroom artist contest and courtroom journalist contest for interested students. Our Wesley team will compete against opposing prosecution and defense teams from among approximately 56 junior high school teams on alternate weeks during the competition.

When and where does Mock Trial take place?

The competitions begin the first week of November and continue throughout the month. The competition will take place virtually this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, and they are scheduled weekday evenings with check-in beginning at 4:00 p.m.

What is the rehearsal schedule at Wesley?

I will receive our case from the Constitutional Rights Foundation on Thursday, September 10th and then we are off and running! Tuesday and Thursday after school rehearsals will begin the week of September 13^th from 3:30-4:45. Sunday rehearsals will be on zoom and begin on October 3rd from 1:00-4:00. Sunday rehearsal will extend from 1:00-5:00 as we get closer to the competition, though I will divide some Sunday rehearsals into shorter segments later in October. Some rehearsals will require specific students to come for longer segments depending on their role. Please do not schedule appointments or other activities when rehearsals are scheduled. Click here to view the rehearsal schedule as well as a waiver form required by the Constitutional Rights Foundation. Constitutional Rights Foundation Waiver.

Monday afternoon rehearsals may be scheduled for individuals only as we get closer to the competition and are subject to student availability. All other extra curricular activities will need to come second. If you can’t make this commitment, please consider the alternate elective class. Accommodations will be made for high holy days, high school open houses and visit days and Fulcrum camp this fall. I will take only the time required but all the time that is necessary to make sure our students are prepared to go to trial.

What do we do in class and rehearsals?

There is such a short period of time (less than two months) to accomplish the monumental task of preparing our entire case for trial including; case analysis, developing prosecution and defense theories, writing opening statements and closing arguments, developing direct and cross examinations, mastering 16 rules of evidence and learning to make and argue objections, as well as learn and present witness testimony all in strictly timed presentations. I can assure you that your child will be challenged in the most stimulating ways. Students will develop advanced critical thinking and reasoning skills, poise, maturity and increased self-confidence.

How are assigned roles determined?

Role assignments will be determined at the end of the first three weeks of rehearsals, and I would appreciate your trust in me as I make those determinations alone. There are only 15 roles available in the competition. Therefore the class size is limited to 15. The saying that a “team is only as strong as its weakest link” was never more true than in Mock Trial. If a student is not taking his or her role seriously, neglects assignments, is not prepared for class, is frequently absent from class or rehearsals, or seems uninterested, I will not hesitate to re-assign their part. During the competition, each student is scored individually and all scores are added to the total team score and every point counts. Therefore, every role in Mock Trial is equally important!

What are the Competition dates?

Competition dates are November 3, 10, 18, 30 and December 2. Our team is guaranteed to compete in the first two rounds of the competition (Round 1 and Round 2) which take place the first two weeks of November. We won’t know which side of our team (prosecution or defense) will go up in Round 1 until one week prior to the competition. The opposite side of our team will automatically compete the following week in Round 2. For example, if our prosecution side goes up in Round 1, the defense automatically competes in Round 2 (and vice versa). The school elimination process begins after the second round. If we win our first two rounds, our team will continue to advance to the next competition date. We must continue to win each round after that to advance. The entire team attends all of the competitions.

Please read this letter with your child, and sign both the consent form and CRF Permission Slip. Please have your child return forms to me by Thursday, September 16th. I am on campus part time on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. If you have questions or concerns please contact me by email at: banderson@wesleyschool.org. Look for more information from me throughout the competition.

I pledge to do all I can to make this competition an exciting and rewarding experience for your child!

Sincerely,

Barbara Anderson, Mock Trial Coach