After months of preparation and practice, Gabrielino High School’s Mock Trial teams competed in a series of rounds at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, ultimately advancing to the top 16 schools in Los Angeles County.
Gabrielino is home to two full teams—led by captains Valerie Leung, Natalia San Lucas and Silver De Leon—consisting of an A prosecution and defense team and a B team that can substitute in if any A member is unable to perform.
“We always try our best to include everyone who wants to get exposure to the legal field and exposure to the Mock Trial,” Leung said.
On Nov. 7, the first day of competition began for the A prosecution team, led by junior De Leon. The team departed Gabrielino during lunch to arrive early at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse and review direct examinations, opening statements, objections and other trial elements.
San Lucas explained that before a trial, she typically tries to “run through my cross-examination with a witness who’s really combative so I’m prepared for that type of situation.”
At 6 p.m., the trial commenced. After pretrial motions, opening statements, witness examinations and closing statements, the judge returned the prosecution’s verdict of guilty on the charge of first-degree murder.
Along with winning the verdict, the Eagles also won their first match with an impressive team score of 404.
In a last-minute mix-up with the competing teams, the B prosecution team stepped in for a no-show team, taking on a varsity defense team from another school. Because of their sub-team status, they did not receive a score for their performance.
On Nov. 10, the A defense team, led by senior Natalia San Lucas, competed in the second round. Following a power match system, they were paired against a prosecution team with a similar first-round score.
After two hours of trial presentation, San Lucas calmed her nerves and concluded the trial with her closing statement.
“The closing statement is unique since it changes based on what happens during the trial,” San Lucas said.
The defense team was given the verdict of not guilty on the charge of first-degree murder, but the defendant was found guilty of manslaughter. The team received a high score of 464.
After a one-day wait, the scores were released, confirming that the Eagles qualified for the playoff round.
On Nov. 12, the A prosecution team returned to the Stanley Mosk Courthouse for the first playoff match. At approximately 5:30 p.m., the trial began. The judge returned a verdict of guilty on the charge of first-degree murder, and the team earned a score of 485.
The Eagles were notified the following day that they had qualified for round three of the competition.
On Nov. 17, the A defense team competed once again at the courthouse. Their trial began at 5 p.m., and although they gave a convincing performance, they lost the verdict. The team still earned a high score of 471.
Despite the result, the season ended on a positive note. Gabrielino’s Mock Trial team placed in the top 16 schools in LA County, surpassing hundreds of other competitors.
