Mock trial team finishes well
By Gregg Rettig
Members of the West Jefferson High School mock trial team include, in back from left, Andrew Lewis, Andrew Smith, Evan Golden, Austin Murry and Logan Stepp. In fron from left are fellow team members Katerina Bradfield, Rachel Garen, Nicole Critchfield, Brynna Cahill.
COLUMBUS — All programs should be this successful.
In just its second year of existence, the West Jefferson mock trial team advanced to the 30th Annual Ohio Mock Trial Competition, which was held Thursday at the Franklin County Courthouse.
The Roughriders did not advance to to the championship round of eight, but legal advisor Marla Farbacher said she was pleased with the team’s effort nevertheless.
“I thought they did awesome,” she said. “I thought they did really well.”
The statewide compeition started with 365 teams. Just 26 advanced to the state round.
The three-day competition will culminate with a final round to be held at the Statehouse today.
To advance to the state championship competition, students had to win both their district and regional competitions, which were held at more than 50 locations throughout the state.
Ohio Mock Trial is sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (the Center) and is Ohio’s largest high school academic competition. More than 3,500 students participate.
In this year’s case, students analyzed an individual’s rights under the Fifth Amendment regarding improper confessions. Each year, the Center writes an original case based on a current constitutional issue.
The case is designed to educate students about their rights as citizens and to help them develop critical thinking, reading, writing, public speaking, and listening skills.
During the competition, students assume the roles of witnesses and attorneys.
More than 1,000 legal professionals serve as volunteer judges and team advisors.
Each team consists of between five and 11 students who are required to prepare both prosecution and defense cases and to participate in two trials against different teams.
