Students on mock trial team test courtroom skills
Students who have always wanted to yell, “Objection, your honor” were given that chance recently as members of Warren County High School’s mock trial team.
Competing against other schools in its district, Warren County’s mock trial team secured a second-place finish behind Cookeville. Last year, Warren County won the district and advanced to state competition.
Individually, Brandi Robinson was named best prosecutor’s witness, while Homer Disher won best prosecutor’s lawyer.
“The students are given an imaginary case and they act like it’s a real trial,” said mock trial coach Darrell Austin. “Opening and closing statements are given from each side, they get to call witnesses, and all this takes place in front of a real judge.”
This year’s imaginary case revolved around country singer Kerry Edwards, who was charged with murder. Edwards, and other members of her group, had developed a rocky relationship with their band manager and fired him.
The band manager, according to the fictitious storyline, had filed a lawsuit against the group for breach of contract. But before that lawsuit could go to trial, the band manager was found dead.
At the murder scene was a music award the band had won. It was covered in blood and was the apparent murder weapon. But all the band members, not just Kerry Edwards, had the same music award, and all had a motive to kill their former manager.
Depending on whether they were prosecutors or defense lawyers, students either pushed for her guilt or argued for her innocence. Prosecutors from one school squared off against defense lawyers from another. Points were awarded based on their in-court performances.
“I know I have a biased opinion, but there’s no question we were a lot better team than Cookeville,” said Austin. “Cookeville’s team is made up from their drama club and they’re into the showy stuff. They make a big production out of it, but they don’t know as much about the law.”
Austin praised the work of attorneys Tom Miner and John Partin for helping to train the local students.