Westerville’s Middle School Mock Trial teams came together at the Westerville City Council Chamber on March 16 to practice for the upcoming competition. These eight graders take on various roles: attorneys for the prosecution and defense, bailiffs, witnesses, and researchers. Serving as judge for the mock trial hearings was Zach Wilkerson, Westerville North High School teacher and Mock Trial advisor.
Advanced 8th grade social studies teachers Tristen Henry and Jennifer Eckstein (Blendon), Leslie Thompson (Genoa), Patrick Acocks (Heritage), and Liz Stokes (Walnut Springs) led this middle school extra-curricular program with support from the Gifted Education and Social Studies Departments. Special thanks to the Westerville Clerk of Courts office for allowing the pupils a more realistic setting in which to prepare. Students are competing today at the State Showcase in Columbus at the Supreme Court of Ohio. Learn more at http://oclre.org/aws/OCLRE/pt/sp/mocktrial_middleschool.