The mock trial team’s formal run-through pitted the team’s own prosecution against its defense on Jan. 31 in preparation for its county competition.

In the trial, senior co-captain and prosecution attorney Michael Chang acted also as pre-trial attorney for the defense, and sophomore defense witness Jennie Werner added the role of the clerk.

Team adviser and Saratoga parent Robert Galvin acted as the presiding judge of this year’s case, in which a college student was charged with second-degree murder and illegal gun possession.

World History and AP US History students came to watch the trial for extra credit.

In the final verdict, Galvin declared the defendant not guilty of second-degree murder but guilty for illegal gun possession. He pointed out that the judge’s decision is not important since the students are judged and scored based on their performances.

Galvin believed the team improved from its practices and the invitational on Jan. 17.

“A lot of the new attorneys and new witnesses had a great start for everybody going into competition,” he said. “I was most impressed by the new attorneys. They did a good job.”

He called the run-through a “good start” in preparation for the team’s first round of preliminary competition on Feb. 2.

Freshman witness Catherine Cheng agreed with Galvin about the team’s improvement.

“I think it was one of our best [run-throughs] in the entire time that we’ve been practicing,” she said. “I used to be really nervous in the beginning, but for now, I’ve learned to control my anxiety.”

Preparing for the county competition against Palo Alto two days later, Cheng had mixed feelings.

“I’m a little nervous because it’s my first time [in the competition], but I think I’m well-prepared, and I know my lines,” she said.

The next preliminary rounds will be conducted Feb. 7, 9 and 15 at the Downtown Superior Courthouse in San Jose.