Latest news with #NationalHighSchoolMockTrialChampionship
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wheelersburg and Gallia Academy advance to State Mock Trial
PORTSMOUTH — Earlier in the school year, students across the state received an example case between two parties, and they form teams to compete in a legal system against other schools. Students were expected to learn the basics of law and presentation, while studying the supplied case. After months of students getting into character as witnesses and student attorneys preparing for anything and everything that could happen in a trial, they went against other local teams to see which school had dedicated the most time to learning the case inside and out. It takes hours and hours of memorization, coming up with strategies and planned responses, and more. This year, over 2,000 Ohio high school students will take their places in courtrooms across the state for the 42nd annual Ohio High School Mock Trial State Competition. The Scioto County OCLRE (Ohio Center for Law-Related Education) Regional Mock Trial Competition took place February 7 at the Scioto County Courthouse. After making it through District Mock Trial Competitions, and eliminating local teams outside of Wheelersburg and Valley, two teams from the Scioto County Regional site that competed in the regional division are now qualified to advance to the Ohio High School Mock Trial State Competition, March 6-8, in Columbus. State qualifiers include Wheelersburg High School and Gallia Academy Team 1. Eric Kephas, legal advisor for the Wheelersburg team said, 'Coach Stamper and I couldn't be more proud of this team, not just because of what they've accomplished but because of how hard they've worked to get here. We've been blessed with great student leaders over the years, and this season that's really made all the difference. No matter what they are asked to do, they never complain — and no matter what challenges they face, they never blink. Making it back to state was our goal from the moment the season began, and the students deserve every bit of the credit for making that happen.' He went on to say, 'I'm especially proud of our seniors, particularly those who have been part of the program all four years of high school. Addison Mullins and Addy Bowling have been so important to the success we've had in recent years. In their four years of high school, they've now helped us qualify for state three times. That's a rare achievement, and they played a big part in it.' The 2025 state champion team will represent Ohio at the National High School Mock Trial Championship which will take place on May 7-10 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Scioto County Regional Competition included teams from 4 schools — Gallia Academy Team 1 and Team 3, North Adams Team 2, Valley Team 1 and Team 2, and Wheelersburg. The Wheelersburg High School team includes Legal Advisor Eric Kephas, Coach Jarrett Stamper, Addison Bowling, Josh Ferguson, Gracie Glenn, Trevan King, Vance Lauderback, Addison Mullins, Rudra Patel, Madalyn Reed, Brady Schomburg, Aedin Strickland, and Nick Sylvia. The other advancing team, Gallia Academy Team 1, includes Coach Aaron Walker, Legal Advisor Brynn Noe, Isaac Caison, Leylah Eplin, Isabell Johnson, Keagahn Lloyd, Addison Nolan, Silas Patterson, Sophia Rocchi, Austin Rykowski, Reagan Skidmore, Wilson Smith, Brittyn Snedaker, and Gabriella Washington. When asked how he felt about his team advancing to State Competition, Gallia Academy Coach, Aaron Walker, commented 'To say that I am proud is an understatement. This really is a testament to the students' hard work and perseverance. To be recognized in this way is so encouraging and sets a new bar for our program. It's also a testament to the countless people who have supported these young people. It's undoubtedly a team effort and we can't wait for Columbus!' Outstanding Attorney awards were presented to Bella Johnson and Reagan Skidmore of Gallia Academy Team 1, Paige Evans of North Adams Team 2, Nathan Cooper and Reagan Rolfe of Valley Team 2, and Trevan King of Wheelersburg High School. Outstanding Witness awards were presented to Sophia Rocchi and Austin Rykowski of Gallia Academy Team 1, Leeland Barry of North Adams Team 2, Travis Thompson of Valley Team 2, and Van Lauderback and Brady Schomburg of Wheelersburg High School. The 2025 Ohio Mock Trial case examines the intersection of the First Amendment, defamation and the rise of generative artificial intelligence. This case specifically looks at what happens when the public interest in parody and political commentary bumps against the new capabilities for realistic deepfakes in a political campaign. Denver Saidi, a candidate for the local city council and principal of Trillium High School, was giving a speech at the school's Snow Ball Dance when they accidentally mispronounced a name. Instead of just laughing it off, Trillium student Wyatt Latu used a generative AI app to create a deepfake video of Saidi making jokes about fleeing from the cops after a night of drinking. Pretty soon, everyone in town had seen the video, and many believed it was real. Saidi filed a lawsuit for defamation and sought a preliminary injunction to have the video taken down. Students will participate in the hearing to consider the preliminary injunction, weighing the legal factors that pit free speech against the damage to a person's reputation and campaign. The Scioto County Regional Competition is coordinated by Jay S. Willis, Assistant Prosecutor at the Scioto County Prosecutor's Office and Sharee Price, Gifted Services Coordinator at the South Central Ohio Educational Service Center. 'We're very grateful for the local lawyers and judges who volunteer their time to serve as judges for this competition,' Price said. 'The students and their advisors spend a great deal of time preparing for this event and it means a lot to them to work with real-life attorneys and judges. Participation in Mock Trial helps develop useful knowledge about the law, questioning techniques, critical thinking and oral advocacy skills.' Her sentiments were echoed by Wheelersburg's Legal Advisor, Eric Kephas, who stated, 'Mock Trial is an important program because it builds skills that translate to so many fields. I've seen this program help develop some of the most amazing young people I've ever met, whether they've wanted to be attorneys, architects, or something in between. It's definitely something I'd recommend everyone consider trying if they get the chance.'
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Yahoo
Erie students put their law skills to the test at ECBA mock trial competition
Some of the region's best and brightest high school students got an inside look at our judicial system. Over the past two days, the Erie County Bar Association has hosted a mock trial competition at the Erie County Courthouse. Millcreek Twp. moving ahead with Zem Zem Shrine Club assessment About 100 students from six regional high schools competed and if it weren't for their young faces, you'd might just mistake them for actual attorney's based on their arguments. Imagine you're sitting in a courtroom for a trial. Witnesses are being questioned about the actions of a defendant, corroborating evidence, and giving in to disclosing information after being grilled by attorneys. But as arguments start to really hold their ground, you realize that these convincing arguments are coming from high school students who have practiced and researched for weeks to get ready for a mock trial competition. Several arrested on various charges after New York police chase, raid 'The mock trial event here teaches a lot of the students definite qualities on time management, personal responsibility, and it really tasks you to digging into all of the paperwork, statements and really close analysis and formulating your argument on top of that,' said Ben McCrory, the 'prosecution attorney' from Northwestern High School. Students directly took on the roles of attorneys, witnesses and timekeepers as they acted out a civil or criminal trial as both the prosecution and defense and pled their case to the jury which consisted of Erie County Bar Association practicing attorneys and judges. 'The level of commitment by the kids is really exceptional for 17, 18, maybe even 19 years old and the bravery it takes to get up in front of a mock jury, a mock judge, and all of your friends and family watching. I really commend them for the time they spent, their preparation,' said Lisa Presta, a senior partner at MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP. One of the teams competing was from Northwestern High School and for some of the students, it was their first time ever in a courtroom. This was the first competition for the new coach of the mock trial team he said he was just as nervous in the courtroom as his students probably were but was proud of their accomplishments. 'How you raise objections in the courtroom, how you craft your opening arguments and your questioning, and closing statements. It's been a lot of fun getting to learn through it with them,' said Zach Petty, mock trial advisor and head coach at Northwestern High School. Teams that advance from this competition will compete in Harrisburg for a chance to represent Pennsylvania in the National High School Mock Trial Championship. 'And they take away that kind of advocacy and verbal skills that you really hope is going to continue to increase with the next generation,' Presta said. Erie County Council discusses potential salary increase for elected officials 'It's truly been a great experience. I was unsure how it was going to go, but it's been one of the best groups and experiences that I've had in my high school career,' McCrory went on to say. Students didn't immediately hear the verdict after the trial but they'll find out on Friday if their arguments held water in the eyes of the jurors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
