Middle School Mock Trial Leads in the Courtroom

Courtroom artist, journalist, witness, lawyer — these are all roles students could explore as part of the inaugural Middle School Mock Trial program.
 
This past year Superior Court Judge Darrell Mavis, LASC Probate Attorney Patricia Doyle, and Poly’s Brady Frome taught the first ever Mock Trial block with great enthusiasm from our students. The program allowed students to argue, from all positions of the courtroom, a case involving the safety of an autonomous vehicle created by the Constitutional Rights Foundation. Students developed their analytical and communication skills while learning how to be trial lawyers.
 
“I think the Mock Trial Program is a fantastic opportunity for Middle School and High School students to acquire a working knowledge of our judicial system, develop analytical abilities and communication skills, and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of our society,” said Judge Mavis. “Many alumni of the program have said that it was the best learning experience they had in all the activities they had participated in at school. I know for me personally, the program had an enormous impact on my career, first as a trial lawyer and now as a judge.”
 
Students were tasked with reading more than 100 pages of trial information in preparation for the case. There was such excitement for the material that they met informally during lunch and after school to read up. The block concluded with a guilty verdict — a crushing verdict to some and a triumph for others.
 
Poly is thrilled to welcome back Judge Mavis to teach Mock Trial again in the Middle School for the 2022-2023 school year.
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