Dos Palos High students win mock trial program, designed teach court system to youth

Students from Dos Palos High took first place last month in a program designed to teach young people the fundamentals of the Merced County Superior Court.

The “Merced County Mock Trial” is conducted through collaboration between Merced County Office of Education, Merced County District Attorney’s Office and the Merced County Bar Association, according to an MCOE press release.

The program, which is in its fourth year, provides students an opportunity to learn the ropes of the system, and participate as mock defense and prosecution attorneys, witnesses, court clerks and bailiffs.

Students may also serve as courtroom artists and journalists, the release said. Mock trials are held in more than 30 other counties statewide.

The Constitutional Rights Foundation, which runs the program statewide, provides a hypothetical murder trial scenario involving pretrial issues regarding the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, the release said.

Pacheco High School in Los Banos placed second and Gustine High School placed third in the trials this year, held inside the Merced County Administration Building’s Board Chambers.

Jennifer Aguilar from Dos Palos earned the Outstanding Role Award. She was a pretrial attorney in one trial and a defense attorney in another, the release said.

Local attorney Carlos Fuentes was presiding judge at one of the trials and Merced County Deputy District Attorney Thomas Min presented on behalf of the District Attorney’s Office.

The Merced County District Attorney’s Office provided volunteers to participate as attorney coaches to prepare teams and assisted with recruiting the presiding judges.

Local attorneys Anthony Colacito, Tom Pfeiff, Carlos Fuentes and Marvin Brown will serve as the presiding judges. The Merced County Bar Association assisted with recruiting scoring attorneys and additional presiding judges.

Students who participate in the mock trials gain a better knowledge of the legal system and increase their analytical abilities, self-confidence and communication skills, the release said.

Dos Palos High will represent Merced County at the California Mock Trial State Finals in Los Angeles, which is happening March 20-22.