The team from Booker Law Academy outperformed their high school rivals to take home the Mock Trial trophy and represent the area in the state competition at the end of March. Image courtesy of | Booker High School
Underdog takes home high school mock trial trophy
After nearly five months of preparation, three rounds of debate and 10 hours of competition against rivals, including the six-time-champion team from Invictus Advocacy Academy, the mock trial team from Booker Law Academy upset the status quo to take home the Twelfth Judicial Circuit High School Mock Trial Competition trophy and represent the circuit in the state competition at the end of March in Orlando, Florida.
Launched in 1991, the Florida High School Mock Trial Competition is an academic competition in which student teams simulate the roles of both attorneys and witnesses in a fictional trial situation. Students have approximately five months to prepare themselves to fit into the roles of the prosecution and defense of the case. Students learn the structure and function of the court and legal process, and develop skills to think critically, to apply legal reasoning and analysis, to speak persuasively and to behave professionally.
Circuit Judge Charles Williams said the skills learned as a mock trial competitor will help the students professionally. “Even if a student does not become a lawyer, being involved helps with public speaking and builds confidence, especially if they are shy or introverted, it helps them project in a public arena,” Judge Williams said.
Judge Williams and his colleagues have volunteered as presiding judges during mock trial competitions for many years. Regulars include Judges Frederick Mercurio, Donna Padar, Dana Moss, Matt Whyte, Maria Ruhl and Senior Judge Lee Haworth. Judges Shannon Hankin, Megan Leaf and Kennedy Legler, three of the newest judges of our bench, also particpated this year.
Booker Law Academy Coordinator Hal Anderson posted on the school’s website that it’s the first public high school in more than 10 years to win the local title. The students devoted months “to mastering case materials, refining arguments, practicing direct and cross examinations, and building the trust necessary to perform seamlessly as a legal team,” Anderson said. “It wasn’t just a win, but the realization that their hard work and belief in one another had truly paid off.”
“The Twelfth Circuit has partnered with Booker Law Academy for years, so we were very happy with the outcome,” said Judge Williams.
The Teams
- FIRST PLACE | Booker High School - Teacher: Hal Anderson; coach: Christopher Hallett
- SECOND PLACE | Manatee School for the Arts - Teacher: Heather Savadel; coaches: Rebecca Freel & Tyler Egbert
- THIRD PLACE | Invictus Advocacy Academy - Teacher: Tiffany Delgrosso; coach: Maria Gerber
- Riverview High School - Teacher: Jeremy Steffy; coaches: Nicole Price & Meghan O'Connell
- Pine View School - Teacher: Ashley McLeod; Coach: Hillary Ryan
- State College of Florida Collegiate - Teacher: Susan Bechtol; coach: Ray Richards
- IMG Academy - Teacher: Chip Chase; coach: Robert Young
- Venice High School - Teacher: Gunter Chow; coach: Callie Cowan
The Competition
Eight teams play each round, and the winner is determined by the number of ballots the teams received throughout the day. Teams are evaluated by their performance as attorneys (opening statement, direct attorney/examination, cross attorney/examination and closing arguments) and performance as witnesses (understood facts of case; interesting/authentic character; etc.).
The presiding judge rates participants on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 in their performance as prosecutor, defense counsel and witness.
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