Woodland Mock Trial Team
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
By, Kylie J. Mar 3, 2022
The Woodland Mock Trial did exceptionally well this year. The team placed third at regionals and advanced to the district competition but did not place. However they did a fantastic job and made it all the way to the district competition.
What is a Mock Trial? A Mock Trial is “an academic, extra-curricular competition team where students assume the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a court case. Teams compete at the region, district, state, and national levels of competition,” stated Ms. Kendall the head coach. The students that participate gain and learn several life skills that help them throughout life. The skills are not only helping them now but it's helping the students prepare for their future as well Ms. Kendall states that some of the skills used are, “teamwork, leadership, goal setting, strategic planning and implementation, professionalism and constructive argumentative skills. Students improve information processing skills.”
The Woodland team consisted of 15 people. Although only 6 compete at a time. To prepare ahead of time they participated in a simulated trial and took on the roles of witnesses and attorneys. They develop a hypothetical case and make a plan for how to solve it. Students have to take the law into consideration as well. When they compete, all cases are entirely fictional but they include evidence, witness statements, and other simulated court documents.
How do you win a mock trial? Ms. Kendall stated that, “A mock trial is scored based on a rubric.” The cool thing about the judging process is that practicing attorneys serve on the judging panel. They score based on how well students perform their parts. Each element of the case is scored. The total teams earn is totaled throughout the season. Individual team members can also be recognized for excellence in their roles. Our own member Joshua Weems won two Outstanding Attorney Awards and Emmanuel Gardner who was also a member won an Outstanding Witness Award.
The Woodland Mock Trial team accomplished lots this year. And we are truly proud of how well they did. Woodland High School congratulates all the students that were a part of the team this year and Ms. Kendall for taking her time and helping to encourage the students to do their best.
The Woodland Mock Trial did exceptionally well this year. The team placed third at regionals and advanced to the district competition but did not place. However they did a fantastic job and made it all the way to the district competition.
What is a Mock Trial? A Mock Trial is “an academic, extra-curricular competition team where students assume the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a court case. Teams compete at the region, district, state, and national levels of competition,” stated Ms. Kendall the head coach. The students that participate gain and learn several life skills that help them throughout life. The skills are not only helping them now but it's helping the students prepare for their future as well Ms. Kendall states that some of the skills used are, “teamwork, leadership, goal setting, strategic planning and implementation, professionalism and constructive argumentative skills. Students improve information processing skills.”
The Woodland team consisted of 15 people. Although only 6 compete at a time. To prepare ahead of time they participated in a simulated trial and took on the roles of witnesses and attorneys. They develop a hypothetical case and make a plan for how to solve it. Students have to take the law into consideration as well. When they compete, all cases are entirely fictional but they include evidence, witness statements, and other simulated court documents.
How do you win a mock trial? Ms. Kendall stated that, “A mock trial is scored based on a rubric.” The cool thing about the judging process is that practicing attorneys serve on the judging panel. They score based on how well students perform their parts. Each element of the case is scored. The total teams earn is totaled throughout the season. Individual team members can also be recognized for excellence in their roles. Our own member Joshua Weems won two Outstanding Attorney Awards and Emmanuel Gardner who was also a member won an Outstanding Witness Award.
The Woodland Mock Trial team accomplished lots this year. And we are truly proud of how well they did. Woodland High School congratulates all the students that were a part of the team this year and Ms. Kendall for taking her time and helping to encourage the students to do their best.
