By Sonia Rebelo '89
In just their second year of competition, Notre Dame San Jose's Mock Trial team earned a top-four position at the Santa Clara County Mock Trial Tournament, advancing to the semifinals against 26 fierce competitors.
The team took an impressive 5-0 record into the semifinals before ultimately being eliminated. It was an epic achievement for ND’s young and energetic program!
Leading the team is Coach Sonia Rebelo, a proud Notre Dame alum from the Class of 1989. With nearly 20 years of mock trial coaching under her belt, Ms. Rebelo is thrilled to bring her expertise back to her alma mater, where her love for justice was first ignited.
“I’ve coached at various high schools, but starting this program at Notre Dame felt like coming home,” she said. “The school welcomed me with open arms, and I’m blown away by how quickly we’ve formed such a committed and inclusive team.”
Thanks to the support of volunteer attorneys, including Prosecutors Dani Rich, Ally Bragg, and Notre Dame alum Olivia Salguero ’15, students poured their hearts into preparing for this year's thrilling case: the mysterious death of a celebrity chef from mushroom poisoning — possibly at the hands of a contestant on his cooking show, Recipe for Success.
Taking on roles as attorneys and witnesses, our students showcased their talents, arguing their cases before real judges and panels of up to ten volunteer attorney scorers. The competition sharpened their legal skills, critical thinking, and persuasive speaking, all while mastering the art of making and defending objections in the heat of the courtroom.
Junior and student attorney Amy said, “I can say without a doubt that I wouldn’t be the person I am today if not for mock trial.”
Amy’s mom added, “Seeing the Notre Dame team in action was incredible. Big shoutout to Ms. Rebelo, Ms. Rich, Ms. Ortega, and Ms. Salguero for coaching an amazing team.”
Another student attorney, Megha ’27, shared, “Mock trial has been both incredibly rewarding and challenging, and it’s been one of the best parts of my ND experience. We’ve put in so much hard work throughout scrimmages and competitions, and it's been so great to see how we’ve grown as a team.”
With such a stellar performance this season, Notre Dame San Jose is definitely a rising force to watch in the county mock trial scene. The future looks bright for these budding legal eagles!
If you are interested in learning more about Mock Trial, Coach Rebelo will be offering an Introduction and Advanced Mock Trial class at Notre Dame this summer.