The Jefferson Community Center Mock Trial team is headed to the state championship competition March 27-29 in Olympia!
Jean Lee, bottom left, with her Mock Trial teens.
In a series of events between Feb. 26 and March 2, the team competed against 17 other teams for a spot in the finals. The top eight teams advanced.
The teens have been preparing their case all year. This year’s fictional case asked participants to both prosecute and defend charges of official misconduct and computer trespass. The Jefferson Community Center program aims to familiarize all team members with the law system and their rights as a citizen. Students receive community service hours for each practice they attend.
The High School Mock Trials are a program of YMCA Youth & Government. Besides the YMCA, the program is supported by various lawyers, judges, associations and hundreds of volunteer hours.
The competition was presided over by 20 King County Superior Court Judges and was scored by more than 60 volunteer lawyers.
The Jefferson Community Center team is coached by Seattle Parks Recreation Leader Jean Lee. It is the only team in King County not associated with a school.