Members of Bishop O’Dowd High School’s Mock Trial team were recognized for their performances during Alameda County’s 2018 Philip A. Harley Memorial Mock Trial Competition, a countywide high school criminal trial competition designed to increase understanding of our judicial system and the processes necessary to create a just society.
During an awards ceremony held on March 19, the following students, who were nominated by practicing attorneys and trial judges who observed four competition trials between 14 schools during February, were recognized for excellence in portraying the courtroom principals in an intriguing case involving the Fourth Amendment:
Samantha Jones ’21, First Place for Outstanding Prosecution Witness; Moriyuki Kano ’20, Second Place for Outstanding Defense Witness; Eva Reyman ’20, Honorable Mention Outstanding Trial Attorney; Sophia Childs ’20, Honorable Mention Outstanding Trial Attorney; Anna Bullock ’19, Honorable Mention for Outstanding Prosecution Attorney; William Kegelmeyer ’20, Honorable Mention Outstanding Defense Witness; Jordan Woods ’19, Second Place Outstanding Defense Attorney; Logan Brockbank ’19, Second Place as Outstanding Defense Pre-Trial Motion Attorney; Semi Yohanes ’19, Honorable Mention Outstanding Prosecution Attorney; Jalyn Davis ’19 and Bella Walters ’19, Honorable Mention Outstanding Witness performances; and Bella Kocabiyik ’18, Honorable Mention as Outstanding Court Clerk.
“This was the first time every grade had team members recognized for their excellence,” Mock Trial coach and social studies teacher Bonnie Sussman said.
The 18-member strong team made it to the semifinals of the countywide competition this year and finished third.