LETTS, Iowa–10 Louisa-Muscatine junior high school students got a taste of the excitement of courtroom drama Dec. 1 and 2 by participating in the Iowa Bar Association’s Middle School Mock Trial State Competition. The conclusion to a successful season, students saw for themselves all the work that goes into preparing for a trial, and developed many meaningful skills in the process.
Prior to going to the state competition, Louisa-Muscatine Junior High School Mock Trial Team Advisor Bethany Erickson explained that students competed at the regional competition at Saint Ambrose University Nov. 19. As one of the top two teams in their competition, the Louisa-Muscatine team progressed on to the state competition, along with the 31 other schools that placed in the top two in their region.
Though eighth grade students participated in an online state competition last year, none of the students on the team had ever participated in a live state competition before. They found the opportunity exhilarating. “It was a great learning experience going against the other teams,” shared Kaylie Davis, a seventh grader on the team.
Over the course of two days, the students participated in three versions of the same trial, once as defendants and twice as plaintiffs. The trial presented a fictional case centered around the death of a victim by hypothermia.
The students found this experience challenging, but extremely rewarding. Aria Holladay, an eighth grader, explained that students had to practice what they had learned about the different roles of plaintiffs and defense teams, how to treat everyone in the courtroom professionally and respectfully, and how to work successfully with their teammates.
On top of sharpening all of these skills, students also had only a limited amount of time after their regional tournament to prepare for state. “I think the hardest thing was from our regionals to state we only had a week and a half,” remarked seventh grader Owen Klocksiem.
During each trial, students received scores from four to 10 points based on several criteria, with 10 representing the best score possible. Each team’s score came from a combination of its members’ scores and their overall ability to work together successfully and behave professionally. Though the team did not place in the top 12 at state, one of their members, Kaylie, earned the Outstanding Witness Award for her performance as defense witness Dana Bayless. “I’m proud of our team, and I know everyone else is too,” beamed seventh grader Kaylee Nguyen.
As this year’s mock trial season comes to a close, everyone on the team encourages younger students to get involved once they reach junior high school. “It’s good to go out there and learn new things, skills, and problem solving,” said Miley Ossian, an eighth grader.
For next year, Erickson also hopes to work with a local attorney who would coach or mentor the team. If any area lawyers would like to help out, she encourages them to call Louisa-Muscatine Junior-Senior High School at 319-726-3421 and ask for her.
