Whodunit? Students From Murrieta Valley Compete in Mock Trial

Students playing lawyers took on the very real issue of teen cyberbullying during the first round of the 29th Annual Riverside County Mock Trial competition Wednesday evening.

Decked out in black and navy blue suits, their hair neatly combed and their lines at the ready, Murrieta Valley High School students stood in the courtroom at Southwest Justice Center and argued that their client, an alleged bully, was not guilty.

The Murrieta Valley students said the evidence against their client, “Jesse Woodson” was flimsy and that the person responsible for the crime was actually “Madison Jackson,” a girl who didn’t like the victim.

The prosecution--Murrieta Valley’s competition, Hemet High School--claimed that “Angel Sterling,” the alleged victim, was assaulted with a deadly weapon by Woodson following “countless” cyberbullying incidents.

In the end, Superior Court Judge Angel Bermudez let the students know that they did a “phenomenal job,” before ruling in favor of the prosecution.

Though Bermudez' role is important, this particular ruling will have little impact on the outcome of Mock Trial. A panel of judges, comprised of local attorneys, scored the teams based on their performance. The scores will be added together after the teams have gone through four rounds of trials.

The top performers will advance to the Elite Eight competition on March 2 at the Riverside Hall of Justice. The two teams who fare the best will make it to the finals on March 5 in the Riverside Historic Courthouse.

One of the scoring judges Wednesday, Deputy District Attorney Jess Walsh, said the students outperformed those in years past.

“This is the first time I felt like a juror,” said Walsh, who has volunteered for Mock Trial for eight years.

More than 500 students, hailing from 25 schools throughout Riverside County, will compete in the four rounds of trials.

Riverside County students began competing in the statewide event in 1983 and in the 29 years since, more than 10,000 students have participated

Each year, the students are given a fictional case to argue. This year’s case, People v. Woodson, involves allegations of cyberbullying and assault with a deadly weapon.

The case hinges on the testimony of "Angel Sterling," who claims that after suffering countless incidents of bullying, both in person and online, he was then struck in the head by a brick. The alleged victim claims that the perpetrator was “Jesse Woodson,” the defendant in the case.

Since the students are required to act as both the defense and prosecution, they must learn the case inside and out and then argue it, all in front of a sea of faces.

That’s quite a feat, said attorney Reed Webb, who has volunteered as an attorney coach for 12 years.

The lessons students learn in Mock Trial go far beyond the courtroom, according to Webb.

“One of the greatest fears adults will tell you they have is public speaking,” said the Temecula-based attorney serving as one of the coaches for Murrieta Valley’s team. “(In Mock Trial) being able to speak in public is what they require and they’re able to do it.”

Woodcrest Christian of Riverside took home the first place title in the 2010 Riverside County Mock Trial competition, with Temecula Valley High School tying for third place.

Next up for the “attorneys” of Murrieta Valley is Round Two, which will involve a trip to Riverside Hall of Justice on Feb. 16.

Last year, Murrieta Valley was part of the Elite Eight but lost in the semi-finals in a close battle with Riverside Polytechnic High School.