Indianapolis attorney tapped for national mock trial board

Criminal defense attorney and mock trial alumnus Scott Barnhart has been elected to the board of the National High School Mock Trial Championship.

Barnhart, a principal in Keffer Barnhart LLP in Indianapolis, will serve on the 17-member national board to help the organization carry out its mission of fostering an understanding and appreciation of the American judicial system. The mainstay activities are the state and national mock trial competitions, which have teams of students matching wits and legal skills as they portray attorneys and witnesses in a courtroom setting.

The Indiana Bar Foundation has managed the mock trial competitions in Indiana since 2014. Barnhart has been a board member of the foundation since 2013 and has served on the Citizen Education Advisory Committee. Currently he is IBF board treasurer.  

“Scott’s willingness to serve in this role is a great example of servant leadership,” said Charles Dunlap, executive director of the bar foundation. “The National High School Mock Trial Championship relies on volunteer leaders.”

Barnhart is no stranger to mock trial. He was a member of the mock trial team at Castle High School in Newburgh and he volunteers for the Indianapolis regional mock trial competition annually, handling a variety of duties from scoring to judging.

“High School Mock Trial builds teamwork, public speaking and critical thinking skills,” Barnhart said. “I am glad to help students across the country learn how valuable an experience it is.”

Indiana High School Mock Trial regional competitions will be held in February in Indianapolis, Hammond and South Bend. The state finals will be March 4 and 5 in the Circle City.

The 2017 National High School Mock Trial Championship will be held in May in Hartford, Connecticut.

Anyone interested in volunteering as a judge for the Indiana competitions should contact the Indiana Bar Foundation at 317-608-6502 or [email protected].