Submitted by Judge Stephenie Gookins
The 2024 Hamilton County Mock Trial competition for area high school students wrapped up competition on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Judicial Center. with Fishers taking first place in a very close trial over HSE.
The competition, sponsored by the Hamilton County Bar Association (HCBA), offers high school students who are interested in learning more about a career in law the opportunity to prepare and present a fictitious case during five preliminary rounds of competition with local attorneys and judicial officers acting as judges in the trials.
Teams consist of up to 10 students who play the roles of the witnesses and Plaintiff and Defense attorneys. Each team works with a local volunteer attorney as a team advisor and a teacher sponsor as they prepare the case for competition which takes place in January and February each year. Teams learn both the plaintiff and defense sides of the case. After the preliminary rounds, teams are seeded and compete in a single elimination tournament until a champion is crowned.
“Drug Busted” from Hamilton Southeastern were the runners up. (Photo provided)
This year marked the 24th year of the competition and the largest field of teams in the program’s existence. There were 14 teams comprised of nearly 140 students from Fishers, Hamilton Southeastern, Carmel, Guerin Catholic, Noblesville, and Westfield schools in the competition this year. The Bar Association had over 100 attorney and judicial officer volunteers to serve as judges and team advisors.
The case was written by the Indiana Bar Foundation, who generously permits the HCBA to use the case for the county competition. The students prepared the case of “Blake Toomey v. Alameda Pharmaceuticals.”
Plaintiff Toomey sued Alameda for $1 million after an allegation that an Alameda product caused Toomey to develop Restless Legs Syndrome. Students prepared opening and closing statements, developed direct and cross examination questions, as well as learned witness statements for the presentation each week.
The final trial was “Due Pilligence” of Fishers High School, coached by Mr. Corbin Mathias vs. “Drug Busted” of Hamilton Southeastern High School coached by Mrs. Gaye Garrett. HCBA recognized the outstanding performance of a student in each witness role as well the Best Plaintiff and Defense attorneys. HSE’s Lauren Nolan was awarded the Bar Association’s mock trial scholarship.
The HCBA 2024 scholarship winner was HSE’s Lauren Nolan. She is pictured with Judge Stephenie Gookins. (Photo provided)
