Junior Ella Cleland, senior Wilson Griffeth, junior Kelli Floyd and senior Sekou Sesay (left to right) pose at the Mock Trial State Finals Competition, where they placed fifth, which took place at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center on March 19. After four years on the team, Mock Trial Head Attorney Alice Adams, a senior, has earned a leadership position. “I am an attorney (which) means I’m assigned a witness and I have to come up with questions for both the direct examination and a cross-examination,” Adams said. “I typically also give opening or closing remarks (which) are about five-minute speeches that just sum up the case and the law.” Photo courtesy of Matthew Regester
The Mock Trial Team commences its 36th season with the release of this year’s criminal case on Oct. 11.
The 36th season of Clarke Central High School Mock Trial kicks off under the guidance of Mock Trial Primary Attorney Coach Ken Mauldin and Mock Trial Sponsor Matthew Regester.
Mock Trial is a team-based competition in which a group of six to 12 students simulate a real trial using an official American Mock Trial Association case. The case remains the same through regional, district, state finals and the National High School Mock Trial Championship.
“Every year, we have a different case file,” Mauldin said. “(The case file) alternates between being a criminal case where it’s the state of Georgia versus somebody who’s charged with a crime or (a) civil case where somebody (is) suing somebody else for damages or liability.”
“Every year, we have a different case file.(The case file) alternates between being a criminal case where it’s the state of Georgia versus somebody who’s charged with a crime or (a) civil case where somebody (is) suing somebody else for damages or liability.”
— Ken Mauldin,
Mock Trial Primary Attorney Coach
The Mock Trial Team practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays at CCHS between 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Previously, the CCHS Mock Trial Team won the National Championship in 1999 and placed fifth in last year’s state competitions.
“We ended up placing fifth in state (last year) which was really good,” Adams said. “We actually didn’t lose any seniors (from) last year (as well), so I think this year we could really win the whole thing.”
The Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition will release a criminal case on Oct. 11, giving the team four months to prepare until regional competitions on Feb. 10. Mauldin expects a strong season this year and hopes to make it to the National Championships in May.
“I think (the team has) a goal to go farther in state and win state,” Mauldin said. “The teams from Georgia have always done (well in) State (Championships and) very well at Nationals. Our goal is to win state and go to nationals and win the National Championship.”
