Congratulations Yosemite!

Yosemite High School won the 2020 Honorable Edward P. Moffat Madera County Mock Trial held on February 6, 11 and 13. Yosemite High School battled Chawanakee Academy, Madera, and Madera South High Schools.

Yosemite High’s defense and Chawanakee Academy’s prosecution team competed in the championship round. Yosemite won the competition and will attend the State Mock Trial March 28-29 in Los Angeles on behalf of Madera County.

Team members include Tenaya Ahrens, William Bates, Justin Beaumont, Hannah Beaumont, Lauren Bernardi, Grayson Bulmer, Jack Dindia, Emma Fries, Elisa Heidebrecht, Jane Irion, Makayla Jeffris, Gabrielle Miller, Gannaen Skeahan, Jocelyn Stansberry, Jaiden Stansberry, Stevie Trujillo, Madison Washburn. The team was coached by Matt Skeahan and local attorneys Nanette Beaumont and Bernie McGoldrick.

Madera County will also be sending a Courtroom Journalist to the state competition. Kaelo Mohulatsi from Yosemite High School won the Courtroom Journalist competition. She reported on a trial on February 6.

During the fictional case People vs. Matsumoto, Bailey Matsumoto was on trial for the murder of Bailey’s spouse, Taylor Matsumoto. Mock Trial students also discussed the Fourth Amendment during the pretrial argument. For a full case brief visit California Rights Foundation Case Brief.

The Mock Trial is a simulation of a criminal court case in which the students act as attorneys, witnesses, bailiffs and clerks. Attorneys from throughout the valley scored the students’ performance.

Each team was coached by attorneys as well as teachers in preparation for the trial. The Chawanakee team was coached by Talitha Musacchio; the Madera team was coached by Michael Horder; Madera South was coached by Amanda Elliot-Ester and attorney Noah Marshall.

Judge Ernest LiCalsi, Judge Michael Jurkovich, and District Attorney Sally Moreno presided over the trials. The Mock Trial was held on three separate days and teams participated in four rounds of competition.

For more information on the 2020 Madera County Mock Trial please email Kristi Winter, Coordinator, Student Events, or call 559-662-3873.