Fayetteville-Perry High School’s mock trial team is full of talented, creative thinkers. Legal advisor Courtney Worley gives fantastic suggestions to the team to aid in their presentations. From left to right, Courtney Worley, Caryn Noble, Landon Huber, Kaya Mitchell, Nicole Daniel, Morgan Cole, Keegan Wireman, Claire Schaefer, Bradley Daniel, Isaiah Dowers, and advisor Jeff Lockhart.
The Fayetteville-Perry High School’s mock trial team had a fantastic season this school year. Preparations for the season began on October 15, 2022. Team members practiced twice a week, applying new tactics and strategies with each session.
“In our practices we try to teach the kids to really be attorneys and focus on the law being argued.” Jeff Lockhart, Mock Trial Advisor said.
In September of 2022, the mock trial team was given a court case created by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE). The case provided falls in line with current, prevalent issues in today’s society; this year’s case focused on the power and limitations of a school resource office to interrogate students without mirandizing them. There are three witness statements provided by OCLRE. The kids must assume the positions of two of the three per side, sides being defense and prosecution. In addition, two attorneys are required per side. Kids are encouraged to embrace the role of an attorney and remain unbiased from a personal standpoint, sticking to the law being argued with the facts presented. This process allows kids to experience how the case law applies to their side of the case, whether it supports or hurts it. After digging below the surface of the case, the kids can create presentations by pulling from the facts they’ve obtained.
“So, our practices are a mix of memorization and thinking on their feet.” Lockhart said.
In anticipation of their upcoming competition, Fayetteville-Perry’s mock trial team scrimmaged Batavia’s and Western Brown’s teams. Working out of the Brown County Prosecutor’s Office, Courtney Worley participates at the scrimmages by filing the role of legal advisor. Throughout the practices, Worley gives helpful tips to improve the kids’ presentations and re-center the focal point onto the rules of evidence, formally known as the objections. There are never any prepared scripts involved, kids always formulate their own parts. It allows them to think for themselves and enhance their critical thinking skills.
“I enjoy watching shy kids gain the confidence to perform in a pressured environment in front of a panel of real life attorneys and judges.” Lockhart said.
Fayetteville-Perry’s mock trial season ended on January 27, 2023. They competed and won against Bishop Fenwick, but lost against the Mason City Schools. In order to advance onto the regional competition, a school must win both of their trials.
Lockhart has been the advisor for Fayetteville-Perry High School’s mock trial team for eight seasons. The school often finds itself competing against schools with greater populations who have more economic resources; however, Fayetteville-Perry High School is able to stand their ground against them. A large part of mock trials is public speaking, something that is feared by many students and adults alike. Kids are able to grow accustomed to public speaking and fortify their confidence in themselves, their thoughts, and ideas early on. Additionally, kids become more open-minded and are willing to see things from a different perspective that they wouldn’t have thought of; thus, increasing their empathy towards others and their thoughts. Such learning experiences will only benefit them in adulthood.
