Jefferson County Schools Mock Trial, Jeffco, Jeffco Schools, Golden CO
Students in Jefferson County who participate in extra circular activities are given immense support from their community though local media, fundraising and even other Jeffco residents who like to attend these events and keep tabs on which school is exceeding in what sport or activity. Although the Jeffco community is supportive of different sports, DECA competitions, and chess meets, there is one activity growing in popularity in Jeffco that not many know too much about.
Mock Trial is an organization supported by the Colorado Bar Association (CBA,) that brings students together to gain court room experience for future legal careers, practice and coaching in public speaking and most of all, guidance in learning to think on ones feet. Towards the beginning of each school year, the CBA publishes a hypothetical court case including affidavits from 6 different witnesses (3 for each the prosecution/plaintiff and the defense,) several exhibits, and an incredibly thick handbook of rules of evidence, which closely resemble those of our country’s legal system.
Teams then assign students each the role of attorney or witness. Attorneys must build a case based on the evidence provided within the hypothetical case, and witnesses memorize their affidavit exactly, only straying from it in the instance of a reasonable extrapolation. Most teams use a 6 person team model, three attorneys, who each complete a direct examination of a witness on their side of the case and a cross examination of a witness on the opposing side. One attorney also delivers the opening statement and one the closing statement.
Teams across Jeffco gathered at the Jeffco County Courthouse in Golden last week for a grueling 4 days of competition. Each team presented their case in one of the buildings court rooms in front of a volunteer judge and jury panel of an average of three people. These panels consisted of judges, magistrates, clerks, attorneys and even adults who competed during their adolescence. Each round of the competition is held to a strict time line, however, most rounds usually exceed two hours.
This year Lakewood High School’s Team A took first, followed by their Team B who took second, and Evergreen High School took third place. These teams will now continue to strengthen their cases for the state competition in Fort Collins on March 8th and 9th.
Students recieving attorney awards after competing.
Even though only three teams from each school district move on to the state competition, Jefferson County recognizes several participants with all sorts of awards from most professional, to best witness performance.
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