Middle School Mock Trial teams gathered in the Westerville City Council Chamber on April 5 to practice for the upcoming competition. These eight graders take on various roles as attorneys for the prosecution and defense, bailiffs, witnesses, and researchers. Serving as Judge for the mock trial hearings was Zac Wilkerson, an English teacher at Westerville North High School and High School Mock Trial Advisor.
Advanced 8th grade Social Studies teachers Tristen Henry (Blendon), Leslie Thompson (Genoa), Patrick Acocks (Heritage), and Liz Stokes (Walnut Springs) lead this middle school extra-curricular program with building support and support from the Gifted Education Department. Organizers offered their appreciation to the Westerville Clerk of Courts office for allowing the students to practice in a more realistic setting. Heritage and Walnut Springs pupils will compete at the State Showcase on May 3, and Blendon and Genoa students will compete May 10. The contest will take place in Columbus at the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Middle School Mock Trial cases are written by teams of teachers and lawyers who craft a trial from literature taught in middle school English classes. This program is designed using Ohio’s content standards for social studies and English language arts so that analytical and thinking skills grow and shine when students argue cases. Middle School Mock Trial is judged by panels of attorneys, and is designed to create school pride and generate learning at the highest possible level. Learn more at http://www.oclre.org/aws/OCLRE/pt/sp/mocktrial_middleschool.