2012 Mock Trial Competition began Tuesday

Thirteen Tulare County high school teams, including one from Lindsay High School, are competing in the annual Tulare County Mock Trial Competition.

With 10 to 20 students per team, all taking on the roles of lawyers, witnesses, court clerks and bailiffs, the teams are coached by local attorneys and school personnel to help them present a case for the prosecution and defense twice during the course of the competition.

Each team must make a presentation based on identical hypothetical case materials.

This year’s case is entitled People v. Buschell. The case centers around Ryan Buschell who is charged with murder and with violating the California Concealed Carry Statute. The prosecution alleges that Buschell murdered friend and fellow Wheeler University student Becca Abeles.

The prosecution and defense will both present arguments.

“The Mock Trial Competition is as exciting to watch as any courtroom drama,” said Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak. “Our students do an incredible amount of preparation to understand the case law affecting their trial before taking on the roles of attorneys, witnesses and clerks. They do a masterful job of conducting themselves in court.”
All teams will present their cases before actual judges and attorneys, with three attorneys scoring each trial. The first four rounds and the semifinal round will take place on the third floor in the Tulare County Superior Court.

The event is free and open to the public, with preliminary rounds slated for 5 p.m. today, Tuesday and Feb. 2. The semifinal round  starts at 5 p.m. Feb. 9.

The finals will take place at 5 p.m. Feb. 16 at El Diamante Theatre, 5100 W. Whitendale Ave., Visalia.

Members of the public, parents, students and teachers are welcome to attend any of the trials.