Recent News

The committee for the annual district Ohio Mock Trial is looking for 20 additional attorneys to serve as judges for the 2008 competition scheduled for Friday, Feb. 1 at the Franklin County Justice Center, 373 South High Street. Materials to help prepare volunteers for their role as judges are available by email in advance and brief training sessions will also be scheduled.

 

The competition will start at 1p.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. There will be two trials held back to back and volunteers must be able to judge both trials.

 

The case this year, the People’s Church v. the City of Urbanopolis, is based upon the Free Exercise Clause to the First Amendment which forbids the federal government from making any law “prohibiting the free exercise” of religion. In turn, the Free Exercise Clause applies to state and local governments by operation of the Fourteenth Amendment. This case presents students with the opportunity to explore the rights granted by the Free Exercise Clause—as well as the limitations upon “Free Exercise” rights that are recognized under the law.

 

The Ohio Mock Trial Program, established by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education, is a statewide educational program designed to allow students to become aware of their constitutional rights and responsibilities. It provides an opportunity to learn first hand about the law, court procedures and the judicial system while building interpretation, critical thinking and public speaking skills. Please contact Mahjabeen Qadir at MQadir@ag.state.oh.us or Nicole Moss at NMoss@ag.state.oh.us or call 614/644.7952 if you can participate this year.