Mock Trial

Cal Poly students performed phenomenally at the American Mock Trial Association Desert Classic National Tournament in Tucson, Arizona, on March 15-16.

Team member James Perry's performance as lead prosecuting attorney earned him a coveted "All National Outstanding Attorney Award." Only 11 students out of the 150 student-attorneys participating this weekend received such an accolade. This is a first for Cal Poly Pomona. Mr. Perry's ranking places him in the top 5 percent of the competitors at this national event. He is also the only recipient to come from a public California university.

Among Cal Poly's notable performances this weekend was a perfect score garnered by prosecuting attorney Chris Montoya. Ella Tarnate and Sara Yohay both received perfect scores for their portrayals of a crime victim and an expert trial witness, respectively. Ms. Yohay managed double-duty this weekend as both a witness and as an attorney. As a criminal defense attorney, Ms. Yohay received a vote as top attorney for that round.

Members of the Cal Poly Mock Trial team are students hand-picked by adjunct political science professor Raul C. Sabado. Students must first enroll and complete PLS 308 in the fall quarter. This political science course teaches students the law of evidence, trial advocacy and substantive law. This innovative offering provides Cal Poly students with an opportunity to exercise the skill and acumen of a special breed of lawyer – the trial lawyer. "I teach the class like it is part of a law school curriculum," adds Sabado, "the department and I think it's very important to give pre-law students a realistic opportunity to get a taste of the rigors of law school."

Anyone interested in learning more about the team should visit the program's website at www.calpolymocktrial.com or contact Professor Sabado at RCSabadoJD@aol.com

Though the program finds its home in the Political Science Department, the class is open to all majors and has no prerequisites.

Last Updated: March 19, 2008