Drama Fills Courtroom, and Verdict Is Instructive

It was not a high-profile case, or even a real case, but the mood in federal Judge Gary L. Taylor’s Santa Ana courtroom was heavy Thursday night as two Fountain Valley high schools faced off at the county’s mock trial finals.

Fountain Valley High School won the hard-fought final round against Los Amigos High School, but all of the seven judges said the contest was almost too close to call.

“These two teams are the elite of the elite,” Municipal Judge James Stotler said before the winner was announced.

A cry of joy went out from the dozens of Fountain Valley students, parents and staff gathered at the Central Justice Center courtroom when Taylor proclaimed Fountain Valley the winner.

“I’m pretty elated,” Fountain Valley team member Tristan Jean said. “It’s been tough and at times tedious, but now it’s paid off.”

“This is wonderful,” Fountain Valley teacher and mock trial coach Christine Baron said in between hugs and kisses from supporters. “These kids worked really hard.”

Fountain Valley will now compete in March at the state competition in Sacramento.

The mock trial, which is sponsored by the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County, counted 48 county high schools among its participants this year.

The competition took place over six days in November and December.

Members of the two final teams, most of whom are seniors, spent hundreds of hours preparing for the competition.

Julie Nguyen, who performed as an attorney for the Los Amigos team, said practicing for the competition was a full-time job.

“I’ve never worked so hard for anything in my life,” Nguyen said. “It’s been overwhelming. We put in 35 hours a week.”

Although some Los Amigos members were visibly distraught over the loss, coach Jim Obracker said he couldn’t be more proud of his team.

“This was like a Super Bowl game that went into overtime,” Obracker said. “If we had to lose to any team, I would want it to be Fountain Valley. They were really classy.”

Although Obracker was disappointed with the loss, he said he looks forward to spending more time with his wife, who is four months’ pregnant.

This year’s trial dealt with a fictitious high school club. The case, People V. Rose, concerned a young woman seeking to join the club and is accused of poisoning the senior club members after they abuse her and reject her membership.

Andrew Wainer can be reached at (714) 965-7172, Ext. 15