Manhattan Beach Students Win 2nd Place in 1st-Ever California Mock Trial for Middle Schoolers

Students from American Martyrs School in Manhattan Beach recently won second place in the first-ever California Mock Trial for middle schoolers.

The event was hosted April 18 by Teach Democracy, a Los Angeles-based non-profit that provides nonpartisan civic education through interactive programs for youth, at the UCLA School of Law.

"To argue a murder case before the renowned Senior United States District Judge John Kronstadt is something most lawyers will never get to do in their entire careers," American Martyrs School Mock Trial Coach Malia Melvin told Patch. "It was an honor and a privilege, and the students rose to the occasion with their performance."

“These students aren't only learning about the law, they're learning they belong in the room," Lourdes Morales, Teach Democracy's Senior Program Director, added.

The first-place winner was St. Mel Middle School in Woodland Hills; third place was Judkins Middle School from San Luis Obispo County.

In the competition, students portrayed the roles of attorneys, witnesses, clerks, and bailiffs to argue a fictitious murder case, People v. Fromholz. In the mock trial, Haley Fromholz, a chef and contestant on the reality TV cooking show Recipe for Success, is charged with murdering celebrity judge Morgan Sears using poisonous “heartstopper” mushrooms during the filming of the semi-final challenge of the show.

Plaques and medals were awarded to the top teams in addition to an Outstanding Attorney, Outstanding Witness, Outstanding Clerk, and Outstanding Bailiff awards presentation. Plaques were also awarded to the 1st-3rd place courtroom artists and journalists.

American Martyrs is a 79-year-old Catholic school with an enrollment of about 700 students and a staff of 75.