![Celebrating Seven Years of Mock Trial at Bosque School]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1714057163/bosqueschoolorg/alka20wurlucf9corexs/MockTrial2024-1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1714057163/bosqueschoolorg/alka20wurlucf9corexs/MockTrial2024-1.jpg","width":512}])
By Zach Lang, Mock Trial Faculty Advisor
Bosque School's competitive mock trial team is designed to help students develop their critical thinking, public speaking, and analytical skills, as well as to learn about the legal system and how trials are conducted. Participation in the competition is a valuable experience for students who are interested in pursuing careers in law, but it can also benefit students who are interested in public speaking, debate, or critical thinking. It provides a unique opportunity for students to learn about the legal system and the important role it plays in society while also developing important skills that will benefit them in any career they choose to pursue.
The end of this school year marks the end of Bosque School's 7th mock trial season and my 19th year of being involved with the mock trial program in some way. Over the past seven years, we have seen our program grow to one of the largest in the state. We have had at least one team qualify for state every year between 2019 and 2023, and all three of our teams qualified for the state competition in 2021. One of the highlights of this regular season was Kayhaan '25 winning her first Outstanding Witness Award. This award is voted on by the judging panel based on the best performances. Aside from the New Mexico state tournaments, we have seen a great deal of growth in our program over this year. Last fall, we were invited to attend the Yale Bulldog Invitational. This tournament is hosted by the undergraduate law club at Yale, and everyone is hoping we continue to be invited to participate in the future. In addition to a fall tournament, we are participating in a spring tournament for the first time in program history. MockOn is hosting this online tournament based on the popular board game Clue. Currently, the team is working on figuring out if it was Mr. Green or Ms. White who poisoned Mr. Boddy. The tournament will be held on June 1-2.
This school year was our first without a full-time attorney coach as Judge Neil Candelaria retired after last school year to move closer to his grandchildren. He played a pivotal role in the birth and growth of the mock trial program. This season, in his honor, we have created an award. This award was voted on by the members of the team and given to the student who embodies the tireless work ethic and dedication to mock trial similar to Judge Candelaria. The team nominated Ella M. for this award, and I could not agree more with the team’s choice. Ella’s dedication to mock trial over the last two years and especially her incredible growth this school year as an attorney and team captain makes her the perfect inaugural winner of this award.
In addition to the upper school teams, we are now in the second year of our middle school mock trial club. Last school year, the Center for Civic Values launched the Middle School Mock Trial Experience. This program involved using a modified version of the high school case with middle school students. This year, the experience took place in Las Cruces, where 12 Bosque School middle schoolers each participated in two rounds of competition and an overnight stay. Ultimately, the team won The Michelle Giger Award for Professionalism & Civility. The award is voted on by the participants of the program and given to one team each year.
As our season wraps up, we look forward to an exciting 2024-25 season for both the middle and upper school groups!
