For 20 years, Hamilton County high school students have had the opportunity to participate in a mock trial program sponsored by the Hamilton County Bar Association (HCBA).
Westfield High School senior Alex Kukura (right) received the HCBA $500 Mock Trial scholarship that is awarded to a senior who has demonstrated leadership and dedication to the mock trial program throughout his high school career. HCBA Mock Trial coordinator Stephenie Gookins, Attorney at Cate, Terry & Gookins, LLC, presented Kukura with the award. (Photo provided)
Students, along with a teacher coach, are provided a fictitious case in each fall by the bar association. Teams are made up of 7 to 10 students. Each team assigns witness and attorney roles to team members and then prepare both the prosecution and defense sides of the case. Members of the HCBA serve as team mentors to assist with case preparations.
In January and February, teams participate in five rounds of preliminary competition rotating their presentations between the prosecution and defense. Local judicial officers and attorneys judge the competition rounds. The teams are seeded based on their preliminary win/loss record and compete in a single elimination tournament that takes place at the Hamilton County Government and Judicial Center.
The 2020 competition included 11 teams from Carmel, Fishers, Guerin Catholic, Hamilton Southeastern, Noblesville, Sheridan, and Westfield high schools. Carmel’s team, “Mock-arena” was named the 2020 Mock Trial Champion in a very close final trial versus Westfield’s team, “The Fanny Pack,” on Saturday, Feb. 22. The final round of competition was presided over by Judges David Najjar, William Hughes and Richard Campbell.
Many students were recognized for excellence through individual awards for each witness representation, as well as Best State and Defense attorneys. The HCBA awarded a $500 scholarship to Westfield senior Alex Kukura for his hard work and dedication to mock trial during his high school career.
The mock trial competition is coordinated by Cate, Terry & Gookins, LLC attorney Stephenie Gookins on behalf of the bar association. Additionally, over 50 local attorneys and judicial officers give numerous hours to assist the teams with preparation of the case and judge the rounds of competition. The competition provides an opportunity for more than 100 local high school students, many with an aspiration for a legal career, to gain firsthand experience working in an educational, law-related activity.
The Hamilton County Bar Association has twice been recognized by the Indiana Bar Foundation with the Most Outstanding Law-Related Educational Award for the program.
The final round was judged by Hamilton County Judges Richard Campbell, David Najjar and William Hughes. (Photo provided)