Middle school mock trial team goes the distance

LESLIE HAUKOOS/Acorn Newspapers L.A. LAW-The Sierra Canyon Middle School mock trial team takes a breather after arguing the case of "People vs. Campbell" before a Superior Court judge in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom. Front, Warren Sayles, Chatsworth. From left, Henry Grunsweig, West Hills; Henry Greenhut, Tarzana; Corinne Foxx, Simi Valley; Gabby Trujillo, Porter Ranch; Austin Moser, Santa Clarita; Ross Haukoos, Agoura; Vikram Gill, Lancaster; Spencer Lichtman, Tarzana; Jordan Cohen, Woodland Hills; A.J. Howard, Calabasas. Not pictured is Maxx Rifkin, Hidden Hills. Several area middle school students learned the fine art of arguing a legal case in a real courtroom during the Constitutional Rights Foundation's annual mock trial competition.

The Sierra Canyon Middle School mock trial team went all the way to the semifinals, competing against 31 other middle school teams from public and private schools from all over Los Angeles County. The seventh and eighthgraders from the Chatsworth school were coached by teacher/ sponsor Jennifer Lichtman and attorney/coach Jamie Lichtman.

Each school team prepared the defense and prosecution in a mock case involving a bombing threat on a high school campus. Students were evaluated not on whether their "client" was found guilty or not guilty, but rather on the fine art-and science-of presenting a case.

The competition took place downtown in the Los Angeles County Superior Courthouse with a real judge presiding over each courtroom. Practicing attorneys awarded points to the students and teams for their courtroom skills and adherence to the law.

Some parents said the mock trial process is a mixed blessing. Seeing their children in suits and ties with fresh haircuts and blossoming selfesteem is inspiring. But the arguing skills they honed will probably make the impending teen years that much tougher for parents, they said, tongue firmly in cheek.

For information about the mock trial competition, visit www.crf-usa.org/.

-- Leslie Gregory Haukoos