Mock Trial
Program Philosophy
The mock trial course teaches the fundamentals of evidence and trial procedure and prepares students to participate in the YMCA Youth and Government mock trial program. Students assume lawyer or witness roles and prepare the State case to go up against other schools in a realistic trial scenario. The District competition is at the end of February; the Washington State competition is at the end of March.
Mock Trial is both an academic Window class and a competitive interscholastic activity open to all classes. It includes weekly after-school practices downtown from October through at least March. Students receive a CR ("credit") grade on their transcript.
Seattle Prep won the National Championship in 2014, and Washington's State Championship in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2004, and 2003. In addition to the 2014 first place trophy in Wisconsin, our Nationals finishes include 4th in Little Rock (2023), 10th in Kalamazoo (2022-virtual), 10th in Evansville (2021-virtual), 10th in Boise (2016), 6th in Indianapolis (2013), 6th in Albuquerque (2012), 10th in Phoenix (2011), 5th in Philadelphia (2010), 3rd in Atlanta (2009), 8th in Delaware (2008), and 6th in New Orleans (2003).
MEET THE COACHES
PROGRAM HEAD
Jennifer Freeman has been coaching mock trial for nearly all of her 30 years of teaching. She began coaching at Garces Memorial High School in Bakersfield, CA, and has continued to coach for most of her years at Seattle Prep. In addition to coaching at Prep, Ms. Freeman also works with the YMCA as part of a state mock trial advisory committee. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and teaches in both the mathematics and English departments at Prep.
Email Ms. Freeman 
PROGRAM HEAD
Andy McCarthy has coached Seattle Prep’s mock trial team to sixteen state championships and twelve Top-Ten finishes at the national competition, including the National Championship in 2014. He teaches English and Social Studies at Prep. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley’s law school in 1989 and practiced law in San Francisco and Seattle before joining Prep’s faculty in 1995.
Email Mr. McCarthy 
PROGRAM HEAD
Brian Elsner has been a teacher and basketball coach at Seattle Prep for the last 20+ years, including the last six years as Program Head for girls’ basketball. He is excited to bring his coaching experience to the Mock Trial world at Seattle Prep. Brian teaches AP Economics as well as Collegio (both history and English) in addition to serving as the Social Studies department chair. He is a graduate of Santa Clara University and a 1997 alum of Seattle Prep.
Email Mr. Elsner