Mock Trial Update
By Jeff Atherton
Please stop by our table at this year’s Education Expo at Camp Jordan! We’ll have sign-up and contact sheets and lots of information. Please also check www.cstheamocktrial.org.
Mock Trial is a competitive team “sport” which develops self-confidence, performance, presentation, and poise skills. Teams are formed. Each team develops the plaintiff and defendant sides of a mock trial case. Some kids are “attorneys” and others are “witnesses” or a combination. Parents are encouraged to become involved.
- Mock Trial Retreat: If you are planning on participating in the McCallie Blue Tornado Invitational you are invited but not required to attend the retreat. This is a marathon work session beginning Friday evening and throughout Saturday. It kicks off the season and is a great initiation for newcomers. We usually enjoy time around the campfire in the evening.
- Date: Sept. 22-23
- Time: Friday 5 p.m. - Saturday 4 p.m.
- Place: Booker T. Washington Park, off Highway 58
- Cost: $15
- Bring: snack to share, soft drink, Blue Tornado Mock Trial case (Check the CSTHEA Mock Trial website: www.cstheamocktrial.org), pen/notebook, sleeping bag
- Chaperones: Mr. Atherton and willing parents
- First Meeting: Monday, Sept. 11
- Practice Times: Mondays and Thursdays, 5:15 – 7:15
As competition days approaches additional times are added. - Place: Erlanger Hospital cafeteria — back corner (behind the dividers)
- Parking: hospital parking garage If you get a free Healthlink Plus card, the parking is free. (Get application at information desk.)
- Cost: none
- Chaperones: Mr. Jeff Atherton and willing parents
- Practice Times: Mondays and Thursdays, 5:15 – 7:15
McCallie Blue Tornado Mock Trial Invitational is Nov. 11. The cost to enter is $7-10. It will involve the entire day! Each team competes in 4 trials. A buffet lunch is served at the McCallie cafeteria for a reasonable cost. The top two teams will compete a 5th time in the late afternoon to determine the winner. Traditionally, our homeschool teams have gone out to eat at Chili’s afterwards and walked across the Walnut Street Bridge.
The “Blue Tornado” is a great venue for newcomers to learn the ropes. Kids in upper middle school can compete in this invitational. If we have enough beginners, a novice team is formed. An award is even presented to the best novice team. Again, parents are encouraged to participate. The teams seem to do better if a parent is alongside. No attorney experience is required!
Regional mock trial season begins immediately after the “Blue Tornado.” (See the practice schedule above.) Each member will want to download the case sometime in November at www.tba.org/mocktrial. Be sure to download Mock Trial update the case materials for the correct year. Regional competition is during February. The dates are not set in stone until the last minute (which can be frustrating). They are held in the evenings at the Hamilton County Court House. Each team will have 3-4 trials, depending on the number of teams competing. The top 4 teams will compete on a Saturday to determine which team(s) will advance to State. The local Bar association has provided pizza and soft drinks after this finals round for anyone participating. Traditionally, our teams will then gather at Coolidge Park for a vigorous game of football, Frisbee, and walk across the bridge. Who knows, they might even dance the Virginia Reel too! This ends the season for many of the mock trial kids, but not necessarily.
State competition — If one of our teams advances to State level, they will continue the same schedule as before. The case does not change. Our State team needs other kids to continue to scrimmage against. Any mock trialers who want to help, please come!!! This is excellent practice to further develop mock trial skills!
State is held in Nashville at the downtown Courthouse. The dates are a weekend in March. We have previously gone up to Nashville on Thursday afternoon and worked diligently until late in the evening and the following morning to make final adjustments. Competition rounds begin Friday afternoon. There are two rounds on Friday afternoon and two rounds on Saturday. If we are one of the top two teams we then participate in a finals round late Saturday afternoon.
Nationals — If our team wins either first or second at State we will proceed to one of two national competitions. A whole new case must be prepared. The competition is in May. We expect that at least one of our homeschool teams will be participating in a national competition in 2007. Questions: Allyson Kinard 886-9407 or Jeff Atherton 266-2121.
