High school law interns show off their skills at mock trial | PHOTOS

Jamaya Pauleus, playing a witness, gives testimony during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Attorney Patsy Rampersaud, right, from the Public Defender’s office assists the prosecution team, from left; Dianarys Watson, Sophia Cavaretta, Aiden Aristhomene, Ava Friedland, Brianna Wells and Cynthia Ramirez during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dianarys Watson, playing the role of prosecutor, points at the defendant, played by Emily Estevez, during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Natalia Sarraga is seated at the defense table during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Attorney John James, playing the role of the judge, smiles at a clever answer from a witness during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Fort Lauderdale High School student Indya Simmons, playing the role of defense attorney, questions a witness during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Attorney John James, playing the role of the judge, looks on as Jacob Constant plays the role of a witness during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

D’Liyah Lubin plays the role of a witness during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Attorney Patsy Rampersaud from the Public Defender’s office assists Brandon Moldof, playing the role of defense attorney, during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Ava Friedland, playing the role of prosecutor, gives her opening statement during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Gabriella Marinangeli, playing the role of a witness, and Dianarys Watson, playing the role of prosecutor, look towards the defense table during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Mikalah Kelly, flanked by Victoria Gastelu, left, and Indya Simmons, are shown at the defense table during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Aiden Aristhomene, playing the role of a prosecutor, questions a witness in front of a jury of parents during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dianarys Watson, playing the role of prosecutor, quickly closes her notebook after showing another member of her team a note during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Brianna Wells, playing the role of a prosecutor, questions a witness during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Indya Simmons, playing the role of a defense attorney, makes an objection as Cynthia Ramirez, playing the role of a prosecutor, questions a witness during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Brandon Moldof, playing the part of a defense attorney, gives his opening statement during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dianarys Watson looks on as Mikalah Kelly, playing the role of a defense attorney, questions a witness during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Aiden Aristhomene, as prosecutor, questions Chloe Brooks as witness as Attorney John James, playing the role of the judge, looks on during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Jacob Constant, who played the role of a witness, is seated behind the defense attorneys during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Nia Kinchen, playing the role of a prosecutor, questions a witness during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dianarys Watson, playing the role of prosecutor, shows the defense team a piece of evidence during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Victoria Gastelu, playing a defense attorney, questions a witness during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

D’Liyah Lubin answers questions in her role as a witness during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Natalia Sarraga, playing the role of defense attorney, questions a witness during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Fort Lauderdale High School student Indya Simmons, playing the role of defense attorney, questions a witness during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Mikalah Kelly, playing the role of a defense attorney, questions a witness during a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Parents, serving as jurors, deliberate the case after closing arguments in a mock trial as part of the Summer Justice Internship Program for high school students through the Broward County Public Defender’s Office in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June. 27, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)