Recent News

February 12, 2010

Columbus Bar Members Judge Mock Trial

Nearly 50 Columbus Bar members and 300 high school students braved the snow and ice on last week to participate in the 2010 District Mock Trial Competition at Franklin County Municipal Court. This year’s case, Alex Leslie vs Erehwon Local School District, analyzed the proper limitations upon students’ First Amendment right in the digital world.

Through a simulated trial in a real courtroom, teams of five to eleven students prepared and participated in two trials against different high schools as plaintiff and defense. Students learn firsthand about the law, court procedures and the judicial system while building interpretation, critical thinking and public thinking skills. District winners from throughout the state advance to the regional competition on Friday, February 26. The state finals are March 11-13 in Columbus, and the final championship round will be held in the Ohio Statehouse. The state winner will compete in the national competition in Philadelphia in May.

Teams advancing from the February 5 competition included Centennial Team Red, Columbus Alternative High School, Thomas Worthington, Upper Arlington Team Marshall, Upper Arlington Team Sotomayor, Westerville North, and Worthington Kilbourne Team Amicus Curiae.

The District Mock Trial Competition is sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law Related Education and organized by Judge James E. Green and Mahjabeen Qadir. Volunteer judges included: Lydia Arko, Bryn Beers, Siobhan Boyd, Jennifer Bondurant, Amy Brown, Reid Caryer, Jamie Campbell, Michael Cassone, Thomas Conkle, Molly Corey, Paul Cox, Todd DeBoe, Janelle DiNicola, Monica Dorman, Colleen Erdman, Darlene Fawkes, Kacie Ferguson, Victoria Flynn, Jerri Fosnaught, Erick Gale, Kort Gatterdam, Kelley Haddox, Stephanie Hanna, Teresa Heffernan, Reema Ina, Thomas Jedinak, Randy Kilbride, John Kopf, Frank Kremer, Catherine Lacho, , Diane Malory, Walter McNamara, Mike McPhillips, Tim Miller, Nicole Moss, Deborah Murray, Andrew Owen, Drew Piersall, Lee Ann Rabe, Paul Russell, Paul Scott Sr., Allan Showalter, Brad Stoll, Michelle Sutter, Melissa Szozda, Tracy Turner, Jeanna Volp, Ashley Wagner, Lisa Whittaker, Payam Yazdani, and Eric Zeisler.