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The Indiana Bar Foundation wrapped up its High School Mock Trial State Championship Sunday with a win from a South Bend school.
Trinity High School at Greenlawn will represent Indiana at the High School Mock Trial Nationals May 18-20 in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Sophie Miller of Trinity High School at Greenlawn was named State Finals Outstanding Attorney and Emily Nutter from Heritage Christian was selected Outstanding State Finals Witness.
Heritage Christian was the state finals runner-up.
About 300 students represented 24 teams from 15 schools that competed in the two-day event.
It was held at the Marion County Community Justice Center in Indianapolis. The teams that qualified for finals competed in regionals in South Bend, Evansville, Indianapolis and Hammond.
“Throughout the weekend, we were impressed by the knowledge, poise, skills, and teamwork shown by these remarkable students,” said Foundation President & CEO Charles Dunlap. “Again, this year, we were shown why Indiana’s High School Mock Trial program is among the nation’s best.”
The students got the chance to hone their skills and fill the shoes of attorneys and witnesses.
They were able to craft arguments and present it to a panel of attorneys, judges and community members with the support of testimony and physical evidence.
This was the first in-person mock trial event in three years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous events were held virtually.
The students looked at the fictional case of State of Indiana v. Sam Barrett.
In the case, actor Sam Barrett allegedly murdered another actor with what was supposed to be a prop gun during a dress rehearsal.
Three rounds of trials were held Saturday and a fourth on Sunday morning. The championship trial was held Sunday afternoon.
Chief Counsel and Director, Consumer Protection Division, Office of the Indiana Attorney General and Presiding Judge Scott Barnhardt, Marion County Superior Court Judge Heather Welch, Amy Dudas with the Indiana State Bar Association and Shelley Jackson with Krieg DeVault were the panel judges Sunday afternoon.
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