By: Ivan Habib

Website Editor

Having recently concluded their competition season, LGHS’s Mock Trial team is reflecting on the immense progress they have made in 2025 and 2026. This year, they advanced to the quarterfinals of their regional division with an impressive record of three wins to only one loss. 

Beginning with some rough months by having to find new attorneys to coach the team and bring the new team members into the world of mock trial, the team refused to let their difficulties hinder their preparation. Farah Thariq, LGHS junior, co-captain, and prosecution closing attorney for the team, explained the difficulties of finding new coaches: “We were scrambling through to find some coaches to participate. I started emailing people that I knew were attorneys, and somehow I was able to find two coaches that were able to coach us this year, and they were honestly, the best decision ever.” Their coaches, Linden Dexter and Alisha Hackern, are real attorneys who work at the District Attorney’s office and bring their courtroom expertise to the students, helping guide them through the tricky case of the poisoning of a cooking show judge. Additionally, the team had a lot of members who were new to mock trial. Thariq described, “I was able to help them, with our objections … forming examinations, and, in general, even though I was in the prosecution, I was able to help the defense, to form theory of the case.” 

They competed in the Santa Clara County Teach Democracy California Mock Trial section, advancing to the quarterfinals with a record of 3-1. Thariq, who has been doing mock trial since her freshman year, reflected on their success this year: “In my freshman year, we were zero and four. Last year we were one and three, but this year we were actually three and one, so we went to the quarterfinals. We lost in the quarterfinals, but we got to compete in a real courtroom where actual trials are held, so that was really cool.” Max Clarke, LGHS junior and witness for the team, attributed the triumph to “our practice for months before we even did any kind of competition against another team. We’d meet every Monday and Wednesday for the most part for two hours, we’d go pretty late, 8 pm, sometimes longer.” Reflecting on his two years in mock trial, Clarke noted, “It’s one of the most fun experiences I’ve had… we’ve built a real big sense of camaraderie and a really close bond with each other.”

Planning for their next season already, the team is optimistic. Clarke emphatically described his aspirations for next year: “I want to go all the way. Come on. We want to win county.” Thariq shared her hopes: “Next year, I really want new members … I want to find more people who actually enjoy mock trial and want to grow and make friends.”