As Thomas Hobbes once said, “Law is the formal glue that holds fundamentally disorganized societies together.” It is the function of the judicial branch of the United States government to be “the formal glue” of society by enforcing laws, through criminal trials that determine whether or not an individual is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Carlmont’s Mock Trial Team is what its name implies, a team of students who argue a fictional criminal case to a judge. There are always three attorneys for prosecution and for defense, four witnesses on each side, a bailiff, and a clerk. Attorneys present opening statements, closing statements, and/or interview witnesses. Witnesses add insight into a case, whether it be through their recollection of events or through their expert opinion of the manner at hand. The bailiff calls witnesses up to the stand, and makes them swear under penalty of perjury to tell the truth. The clerk keeps track of the time restraints placed on each team, and gives warning when a team is reaching their time limit.

With so much going on, Mock Trial is a very complicated and complex process to understand. Junior Joanna Tabacek said, “I wasn’t sure what to think when I first joined Mock Trial my freshman year; I didn’t really understand what it was all about. Lucky for me, I had a great, supportive team who really made learning about law really fun for me.”

Mock trial is also a very educational experience that can help shape individual’s future aspirations. As senior Alex Listvinsky said, “In Mock Trial, I’ve learned about how the legal system works, which is something most people never learn about. By being in mock trial, I can tell that the legal profession is the career path I wish to pursue.”

Mock Trial will resume in a few weeks, and meetings will be held in Mr. Gomez’s room E2. If interested, be sure to listen to the announcements for meeting dates and times.