D.H. Stanton Elementary and Parkside Elementary Win Big at Fulton County Mock Trial Competition

A seasoned D.H. Stanton team took home the Legal Lives top honor, winning the competition for a 2nd time.

In their first appearance at the competition, students from Parkside Elementary won the Judge’s Choice award.

Students from D. H. Stanton and Parkside Elementary tested their speech and debate skills last week and emerged victorious in the Fulton County Legal Lives Mock trial competition held on May 9^th, 2012, held at the Fulton County Courthouse.

For the second time, students from D.H. Stanton Elementary took the highest honor–the D.A.’s cup.  In addition to the team’s overall win, four of the outstanding fifth graders won trophies for individual participation.

New to legal lives this year was Parkside Elementary School.  The first time contenders accomplished a task that was almost implausible.  The Gifted team won the Judge’s Choice award in their trial performance against North Fulton County, State Bridge Crossing Elementary, a three-year competitor.  Four fifth graders from Parkside also won trophies for their roles as prosecutor, defendant, witness and judge.

Every student that participated in the Legal Lives 12-week course received a trophy for their effort.

To culminate the unit study, a total of 5 of the gifted students from the two schools were selected from their persuasive essays to visit the Nation’s Capital and Monuments.

Grady High wins in mock trial, speech, debate and more

Grady High School beat Jonesboro High School to once again capture the Georgia Mock Trial Competition at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville over the weekend. Grady and Jonesboro made the finals after beating Macon’s Central High and Athens’ Clark Central, respectively, in the semifinals.

According to a press release from the Georgia Mock Trial group, this year’s state mock trial case presented a criminal problem, State of Georgia v. Clay/Claire Stafford. In the case, the defendant (Stafford) is accused of aggravated assault against a classmate during a graduation party. Teams have been working to perfect their presentations since the case was released on Nov. 16. The new national case that the Grady team will prepare for the tournament in May will be released on April 1.

Justice David Nahmias of the Georgia Supreme Court and Judge Melodie Clayton of Cobb County State Court presided over the final rounds that determined that Grady High will represent the state in the national tournament to be held May 5-9 in Philadelphia, Pa., the release said.

Teams are evaluated on their ability to make a logical, cohesive and persuasive presentation, rather than on the legal merits of the case, the release said. There are no verdicts handed down during mock trial competition rounds. The objective of the mock trial program is to further students’ understanding of court procedure and the legal system; to improve proficiency in basic skills such as listening, speaking, reading and reasoning; to promote better communication and cooperation between the educational and legal community; to provide a competitive event in an academic atmosphere; and to promote cooperation among you people of various abilities and interests.

The Grady team is coached by Brian Leahy, with assistance from attorney coaches Carl Gebo (Adorno & Yoss, LLP, Atlanta), Trinh Huynh (Alston & Bird, Atlanta), Cecily McLeod and Jay Patton. Team members: Abena Amoakuh, Jasmine Burnett, Kenny Cochran, Molly Daniel, Phillip Dickson, Ben Gittelson, Atiana Johnson, Nile Kendall, Nally Kinnane, Shaun Kleber, Troy Kleber, Miller Lansing, Elizabeth McGlamry, Caroline McKay, Jasmine Scott-Prince, Katherine Sherwood, Sam Weinstock, Jay Williams, and Alix Youngblood.

In other Grady debate and public speaking news …

Grady High School advances to Georgia’s Mock Trial Competition

Over the past decade, Grady High School‘s mock trial team has been very active in the state competition, a program where teams of 14 students are coached by attorneys and teachers to work together to prepare presentations of case material provided by the High School Mock Trial Committee. After performing in the regional and state competitions, some teams are selected to compete on the national level.

Grady has won regional titles and state championships in 2000, 2005 and 2009. They placed eighth in the nation in last year’s national tournament; this year they plan to reach even higher goals. They recently competed at regionals and will advance to the state level of the Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition. For more information, please contact Georgia Mock Trial Coordinator Stacy Rieke at (404) 527- 8779.