The 19th annual Hamilton County Bar Association (HCBA) Mock Trial competition took place from Jan. 16 to Feb. 20, 2019. The competition is coordinated by HCBA member Stephenie Gookins of Cate, Terry & Gookins LLC.
HCBA Mock Trial Coordinator Stephenie Gookins (left) stands with scholarship winner Kaitlyn Ross, a Hamilton Southeastern student. (Photo provided)
Thirteen teams from area high schools – including Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Carmel, Guerin Catholic, Westfield, Noblesville and Sheridan – competed in the competition by preparing the fictitious case of Addison Cowell vs. Marbury Academy & Marion Roberts.
Teams of seven to 10 students prepared the plaintiff and defense sides of the case with the assistance of teacher coaches and attorney advisors. Teams alternated their presentation of the plaintiff or defense side of the case in five preliminary rounds of competition. Following the preliminary rounds of competition, teams were seeded and competed in a single elimination tournament that took place at the Hamilton County Judicial Center on Saturday, Feb. 20. Local attorneys and members of the Judiciary served as judges during the preliminary and tournament rounds of the competition.
Over 120 Hamilton County students participated in this year’s mock trial program and over 60 attorneys and judges volunteered to assist teams with their preparation or judge the competition.
Hamilton Southeastern’s team, “Band on the Run,” was the 2019 Mock Trial champion over Westfield’s “Hoosier Heat” in a very close final trial.
The HSE team is led by teacher and coach Janet Chandler and attorney advisor Sam Robinson of Church Church Hittle & Antrim. HSE’s Kaitlyn Ross was awarded the 2019 HCBA Mock Trial $500 Scholarship. Kaitlyn is a four-year participant in mock trial who has exhibited leadership for her team throughout her involvement.
Awards were also presented to students for their outstanding work in each role of the case. Awards were as follows:
- Best Plaintiff’s Attorney: Makena Trew (Heights)
Runner up: Sofia Donado (Guerin Catholic)
- Best Defense Attorney: Benjamin Rascon Gracia (Westfield)
Runner up: Kaitlyn Ross (HSE)
- Best “Addison Cowell” witness: Wyatt Klueber (Noblseville)
Runner up Veronica Meredith (Heights)
- Best “Alexis Schmitt” witness: Mylee Franklin (Noblesville)
Runner up: Sarah Harlowe (Guerin Catholic)
- Best “Charlie Winthrop” witness: Emily Cerceo (Heights)
Runner up: Ella Foreman (Noblesville)
- Best “Marion Roberts” witness: Braden Buehler (Westfield)
Runner up: Jake Weber (HSE)
- Best “Glenn Miller” witness: Quinn Lowry (Fishers)
Runner up: Max Fallin (Guerin Catholic)
- Best “Carl Reed” witness: Rami Daas (HSE)
Runner up: Chloe Meinert (Westfield)