Six days before the start of her junior year, Winston Churchill High School student Ela Komuntale sat in a jury box inside Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville, weighing robbery and assault charges in a mock trial that felt anything but fake.

Komuntale was one of about 30 high school students selected for the second session of the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office Summer Academy, a free, competitive weeklong program that puts teens in the roles of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, witnesses and jurors in a real courtroom. The mock trial took place Thursday, Aug. 13, in Room 7D.

"I felt real drama," Komuntale told WTOP. "I felt like they weren't just reading off a script. They were actually emulating the witnesses or victims in the situation."

The jury acquitted on both counts.

The program drew about 113 applicants this summer and accepted 70 across two sessions, according to Montgomery Community Media. Students had to submit an essay describing their interest in the criminal justice system to be considered. During the week, participants heard from attorneys, judges and law enforcement officials and observed actual hearings at the courthouse.

Jay Mims, a lead coordinator for the academy, told Montgomery Community Media the program serves students interested in law, criminal justice and law enforcement who want hands-on experience with the agencies that operate within the court system.

State's Attorney John McCarthy said the sessions help students understand the complexity of prosecution decisions. He told WTOP he thought half the participants would make great hires.

Komuntale said the experience showed her how amendments and other classroom lessons apply in practice.

Churchill High students head back to class Tuesday, Aug. 25, when MCPS opens the 2026-2027 school year. Transition Day for students entering kindergarten, sixth grade and ninth grade is Monday, Aug. 24. No future application window for the Summer Academy has been announced.