by Cynthia Price
Legal News
March 5 marks the Western Regional Tournament of the 2011 Michigan High School Mock Trial Tournament, presented by the Michigan Center for Civic Education.
And the Center’s Jim Troost says there are still openings for volunteers.
The program is designed to reenact much of what might take place in trial courts. Teams of 6-10 high school students present arguments before panels of judges, “played” by legal profession volunteers. One judge presides over the trial, while the rest sit as the jury.
The students take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses and compete against other schools in real courtrooms, in front of real judges and lawyers. While the students take on roles, there is no set script. As in a debate, participants must adjust to the strategies used by the opposing side.
The Eastern Regional Tournament takes place in Pontiac on March 12. The top 10 teams in each compete at the state finals, which will be held March 26 in Lansing.
Schools pay for teams to enter. In addition to a teacher who champions the mock trial team’s participation, students are encouraged to work with an attorney coach. Teams receive tournament rules and case materials over email.
The tournament is supported by funds from the State Bar of Michigan
A mock trial clinic for students and coaches was held November at Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s Auburn Hills campus. The clinic included sessions with experienced attorneys and tournament judges covering basic trial techniques.
This year’s case is a civil action focused on cyberstalking, a timely topic in this online age.
The plaintiff is Jamie Anderson, a high school senior, who used the school’s chat room as a means to stay on top of her/his academic pursuit of the highly coveted valedictorian scholarship. Jamie was tied with defendant Taylor Williams for top spot in the class until her/his concentration was allegedly destroyed after receiving threatening communications from a cyberstalker.
Jamie contends that these communications caused severe emotional distress, resulting in lower grades and loss of the valedictorian scholarship. The plaintiff alleges that the defendant was the person who sent the threatening remarks. William’s actions, according to Anderson, violated the state’s civil cyberstalking statute.
All events, characters and documents (and the statute) are fictional.
There are still openings for judges (which should be filled by an attorney), at the March 5 afternoon session (1:30–4:30 p.m.), and bailiffs/timekeepers (which can be done by anyone who can operate a stopwatch) at both sessions. The morning session runs from 7:45 a.m to 1:15 p.m.
To volunteer, contact Jim Troost at 248-209-2349 or jim.troost@oakland.k12.mi.us.
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