Future Legal Minds Get Real-World Insight At Anoka County Mock Trial Camp

Future Legal Minds Get Real-World Insight At Anoka County Mock Trial Camp

ANOKA COUNTY, MN — Inside Judge Jennifer Stanfield’s courtroom on the afternoon of Friday, June 27, an audience of families, legal professionals, and curious onlookers witnessed a compelling courtroom drama unfold — the prosecution attempting to convict Roger Caldwell for the infamous Glensheen murders, while the defense worked to sow reasonable doubt.

Though Caldwell was convicted of first-degree murder in 1978, this was not a retrial — it was the culminating mock trial performance by local high school students participating in the Anoka County Mock Trial Camp, a weeklong summer program aimed at immersing youth in the real-world workings of the justice system.

The camp, hosted at the Anoka County Government Center, provided students with an authentic courtroom experience, complete with robed judges, opening arguments, evidentiary objections, and dramatic case presentations — minus the jury.

“The goal is to be true to form to what a court case actually looks like,” said Judge Stanfield, who presided alongside two fellow judges. “We just don’t have a jury.”

A Revived Program, a Renewed Purpose

First launched in 2023, the Anoka County Mock Trial Camp paused operations in 2024 due to lack of funding. Thanks to renewed support from the Tenth Judicial District and the Anoka County Public Defender’s Office, the program made a welcome return in 2025.

The camp is free to attend and specifically designed for students from schools that do not have access to a mock trial team — a gap common in several Anoka County districts. The idea to create the camp originated with Chris Johnston, a local public defender, and Anoka County Attorney Brad Johnson, who approached Stanfield with the concept.

“Wouldn’t it be a great idea for all of the justice partners in Anoka County to offer this as a free camp, to really promote the law and the art of being a lawyer?” Stanfield recalled Johnston saying.

Their shared mission: expose students to the legal field as a potential career path — or at the very least, to develop public speaking, teamwork, and analytical skills that last a lifetime.

How the Camp Works

Each camp day is divided between hands-on legal workshops and team-based case preparation. Attorneys and judges lead sessions on critical trial techniques like cross-examination, direct examination, and objections, while participants form four-person legal teams to build arguments for the culminating mock trial.

Most coaches are law students or recent law school graduates, offering near-peer mentorship and guidance throughout the week.

“The students, as you can see when you talk to them, are very enthusiastic,” said Stanfield. “They have a lot of good questions. They’re very into developing their case.”

Diverse Students, Diverse Motivations

The program drew students from across Anoka County, each with their own motivation for attending. Some aspired to careers in law; others came for the experience, skill-building, or simply out of curiosity.

Sofia Zacher, 15, a Centennial High School student and experienced mock trial captain, said the camp was an opportunity for growth.

“You never know everything about mock trial,” Zacher said. “It’s one of those things where you need to go over and over again in your brain… and then go over it again just to get that staple in your head.”

She also appreciated seeing a real criminal court proceeding during camp — a moment that gave her deeper understanding of how the system works.

“It’s really interesting because not everyone knows how an actual court works until you’re in the court yourself,” Zacher said.

Zacher hopes to one day become a public defender, inspired by her CHS mock trial coach and a desire to provide accessible legal representation.

Meanwhile, Jaydinh Nguyen, 16, from Blaine High School, joined the camp for a different reason — fun.

“When I saw the email about this mock trial camp, I was like, ‘Oh, I like doing the mock trial. I think I’ll do it again.’ So mainly just for fun and socializing,” he said.

Nguyen said he learned about pre-trial motions, courtroom formality, and the basics of legal procedure — skills and knowledge he didn’t expect to enjoy as much as he did.

Rehema Onwonga, 17, also from Blaine High School, returned for her second year at the camp after first participating in 2023. Her interest in law started with courtroom TV dramas, but the camp showed her the reality behind the screen.

“You know, you really don’t think that shows like that are exaggerated in any way,” Onwonga said. “But it really shows you… trial is nothing like how they show it in the shows.”

Changing Perceptions of the Legal System

Stanfield and Johnston hope the camp helps demystify the justice system, which they believe is often misunderstood — particularly by younger generations.

“A lot of people don’t know about what happens in the criminal justice system,” Johnston said. “They have perceptions about it rather than understanding the whole process.”

Stanfield added that social media often distorts how the legal system actually works.

“We’re hoping to take away the stigma of what we do — that even though we’re on opposite sides and have different roles, we all get along well,” she said. “It’s a good thing for kids to see: that you can have disagreements, different opinions, and still respect each other.”

Both Johnston and Stanfield credit mock trial programs for launching their own careers in law, and they hope this camp can do the same for a new generation of students.

Looking Ahead

With strong turnout, enthusiastic feedback, and the backing of Anoka County legal professionals, organizers say they hope to expand the camp’s reach in coming years — possibly even adding a winter session or additional age groups.

For now, the program has reignited interest in law careers among youth — and perhaps more importantly, built bridges of understanding between students and the legal system that serves their communities.

MinneapoliMedia