Posts tagged ‘mock trial’
South Atlanta Law, Douglass and Carver Technology Students Celebrate Law Month with a Mock Trial
In observence of Law Month, Atlanta City Councilmember Natalyn Archibong and the Atlanta Municipal Court hosted more than a dozen students from South Atlanta High School of Law and Social Justice, Frederick Douglass High School and Carver School of Technology during a day of education about the judicial system.
Law Month, a national observance during the month of May, is designed to educate the public about the court and justice system in the United States.
The mock trial was sponsored by T.A.T.O.O, (Taking Action to Overcome Obstacles) – a nonprofit organization that strives to create opportunities for under-served youth. The objective of the mock trial was to expose students to the role of the judicial systems in today’s society. The mock trial involved a stand your ground criminal case, using information the students learned from the recent death of teen Trayvon Martin.
Special guest during the trial was the Honorable Crystal A. Gaines, Chief Judge of the Atlanta Municipal Court.
Christian Smith, Chief of Staff for the office of Councilmember Natalyn Archibong presided.
“This mock trial enabled the student to gain a better grasp of the judicial system beyond what is often shown in a sound bite on television,” said Councilmember Archibong, a graduate of the Atlanta Public Schools who also spoke to the students about the American legal system and careers in law. “I would like to thank the municipal court for opening their doors to these students which allowed them to learn such a great lesson. Undoubtedly, from the day’s trial, we have some great aspiring legal minds on the horizon.”
Source: Atlanta City Council – Council Communications
At the desk is defense attorney Jasmine Thomas, 11th grade. In the next row are defense attorneys Avis Rippy and Taereco Wilborn, 11th graders. In the following row are defense witnesses Tyessia Roundtree, 9th grade (defendant’s fiancée), Kornelius Taylor, 11th grade (neighbor) and the defendant Oscar Jordan, 11th grade. All participated in a recent mock trial sponsored by T.A.T.O.O, (Taking Action to Overcome Obstacles) – a nonprofit organization that strives to create opportunities for under-served youth.
Defense Attorneys and their witnesses discuss the mock trial testimony. Standing is witness Tyessia Roundtree, 9th grade (defendant’s fiancée). Seated at the desk is defense attorney Jasmine Thomas, 11th grade. Immediately behind her is defense attorney Taereco Wilborn, 11th grade, defense attorney Avis Rippy, 11th grade, and the defendant Oscar Jordan (green shirt) 11th grade.
Grady High School Mock Trial Team earns second place at 2012 national finals
The Grady High School Mock Trial Team earned second place at the 2012 National High School Mock Trial Championships in Albuquerque over the weekend. The Albuquerque Academy of New Mexico won the first place title.
The Grady team won the Georgia state championship in March to secure the right to compete in the national championship. Last year, Grady placed fourth in the national competition.
Grady students captured 6th place at the Empire City Mock Trial Association International tournament in New York City last year and 1st place at the international competition the year before.
The competition involves reenacting a trial, complete with prosecutors, defense attorneys, defendants and witnesses before a panel of professional attorneys and judges.
Grady HS Mock Trial Team captures 15th regional championship
Grady High School’s award-winning Mock Trial Team won its 15th regional championship earlier this month in a competition round with North Springs Charter School.
This recent victory was the 14th consecutive regional championship for Grady and the 15th regional win in the team’s 16 year history.
The Grady team captured 6th place at the Empire City Mock Trial Association International tournament held in New York City last October and took 1st place in the international meet the year before. The team also earned the Georgia State Mock Trial Championship state title for the third consecutive year in 2011.
The competition involves reenacting a trial, complete with prosecutors, defense attorneys, defendants and witnesses before a panel of professional attorneys and judges.
http://www.gradyhsmocktrial.org
Awards
In 2000 Grady received a Commendation from Governor Roy Barnes for their State Championship and placement at Nationals.
In 2005 & in 2008 the Grady Team received the Phoenix Award – the City of Atlanta’s Highest Award
Coaches
* 1996 – Present Carl Gebo served as Head Attorney Coach
* 1999 – 2008 Larry McCurdy served as Teacher Coach
* 2000- Carl Gebo named Outstanding Attorney Coach of the Year* by State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division, Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition
* 2005- Larry McCurdy named Outstanding Teacher Coach of the Year* by State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division, Georgia High School Mock Trial Competiton
* 2009- Brian Leahy becomes Teacher Coach and Cecily McCleod joins as Attorney Coach
* 2009- Jay Patton named Outstanding Attorney Coach of the Year by State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division, Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition
* 2010- Trinh Huynh named Outstanding Attorney Coach of the Year by State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division, Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition
** Carl Gebo was also nominated as Attorney Coach of the Year in 2005 but Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition’s policy prevented awarding that honor to him more than once in his life. Teacher Coach of the Year Awards likewise may only be awarded to a recipient once in their life.)
Relationships with Law Firms
* 1995 Grady High School Mock Trial Program established. Sponsored by the law firm of Powell Goldstein Frazer & Murphy, Lou Sartor served as the team’s first Teacher Coach. Chris Galanek and Carl Gebo, both Powell Goldstein attorneys served as the team’s first Attorney Coaches.
* 1995 – 2007 Powell Goldstein sponsored Grady High School Mock Trial
* 2008 – 2010 Alston & Bird LLP sponsored Grady High School Mock Trial
* 2010 – 2011 Horne & Gebo LLC and sponsored Grady High School Mock Trial; Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, LLP hosted the team’s practices
Team Accomplishments
* Metro-Atlanta / Fulton County Regional Championships Won in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011
* Georgia High School Mock Trial State Semi-Finalist in 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011
* Georgia High School Mock Trial State Finalist in 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011
* Georgia High School Mock Trial State Championships Won in 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010 & 2011
* National High School Mock Trial Championship Placements in 2000 – 13th; in 2005 – 16th; in 2009 – 8th; in 2010 – 3rd
* World Championships Won - Empire State International Invitational High School Mock Trial Championship Tournament in 2010 — World Champion
Student Achievements
– Three Grady Student Witnesses have won Outstanding Student Witness Awards in every round of the Regional and State Competition in which they competed in a season — Sean Corley, Asa Beal and Hannah Mitchell.
– One Grady Student Attorney has won an Outstanding Student Attorney award in every round of the Regional and State Competition in which they competed in a season – Matthews Westmoreland.
– In 2005, first-year student Lardycia Manns was a “substitute timekeeper” at the Regional Competition and a starting timekeeper at the State Championships. 6 weeks later she competed as a starting student attorney for Grady at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Charlotte, NC.
– At the 2009 National High School Championships held in Atlanta, GA, Gus Rick was one of only 3 student witnesses at that competition to be named an Outstanding Witness. To achieve that honor Gus had to be named the Outstanding Witness in at least 3 of the 4 rounds of competition.
– On the 2010 World Championship team — 3 of the 6 competing student attorneys had never competed before as attorneys. And 4 of the 6 competing student witnesses had never competed before as witnesses.
– At the 2010 Empire World Championship Shaun Kleber was the only student to win an Outstanding Student Attorney Award AND an Outstanding Student Witness Award
– At the 2010 Empire World Championship Elizabeth McGlamry received the New York City’s Finest Award naming her the Most Outstanding Student Attorney in the World
Interesting Facts
Grady HS Mock Trial Teams have participated in the closest State Semi-Final and Final Rounds in the history of Georgia High School Mock Trial State championships.
In 1998, Grady advanced to the Regional Championship Round but lost to the Paideia School.
In 1999, Grady faced Clarke Central High School in the State Final Round. The two teams each won one room and won equal numbers of ballots across both rooms. The tie-breaker was total points and Clarke Central had scored 33 points more than Grady out of a possible 2,640 total points — a 1.25% point differential. Clarke Central went on to win the National High School Mock Trial Championship in 1999.
In 2004, Grady faced Clarke Central High School in the State Semi-Final Round. The two teams each won one room and won equal numbers of ballots across both rooms. The total point tie-breaker went to Clarke Central by 6 points out of a total possible 1200 points — a 0.50% point differential. Clarke Central went onto win the State Championship in 2004.
In 2008, Grady faced Jonesboro High School in the State Final Round. Once again the two teams each won one room and won equal numbers of ballots across both rooms. This time, the tie-breaker favored Jonesboro, but by only 4 points — a 0.15% point differential. Jonesboro went onto win its second consecutive National Championship in 2008.
Grady High School
Grady High competes in state mock trial competition
You may recall our intern, Grady High junior Elizabeth McGlamry, who in her spare time is a championship competitor for Grady’s vaunted mock trial team. (See video above for refresher!) Here she writes about the ongoing state championship this weekend. She’ll have an update next week, with a personal perspective on the competition. Good luck to Elizabeth and Grady. Here’s her take:
With exhibits and examinations in hand, 18 of the state’s most talented mock trial teams prepare to head to the Gwinnett County Courthouse for Georgia’s High School Mock Trial State competition. Sixteen regional champions and two wild card picks will go to face-off in mock trials for the state champion title. The case is a liability case over a wrongful termination because of a violation of civil rights set in the fictional city of Miltonville. Two police officers – a former detective and the chief of police – battle to prove who was right: the detective, who believes he was fired for a comment he posted on a social networking site called “MiltFace” and the chief, who vehemently denies such accusations.
Teams provide 14 competing members two provide for two sides of the case, defense and plaintiff, and each side has three attorneys, three witness roles and one time keeper. Sides go against the opposite of another school for roughly two and a half hours, creating a law-and-order-type atmosphere as they conduct an entire trial from preliminary matters to closing arguments. With two rounds on Saturday and the semifinal and final rounds on Sunday, the competition spans the whole weekend and ends with the crowning of a new state championship and the passing of the giant, state-champion gavel.
Grady High’s mock trial team wins world championship
UPDATE: Read AJC article here.
Congratulations go out to Grady High School‘s vaunted mock trial team, which came home this past weekend with a unique world title. Twelve members of the team, which previously place third in national competition this past summer, won the Empire City Mock Trial Association Tournament held in New York City. The team had been preparing for a case since July and had to argue both sides in the weekend competition. After racking up one of the two highest scores through the four rounds of competition, the team faced, and defeated, a home-schooled team from North Carolina.
We took some time to speak to two of the top competitors, juniors Shaun Kleber and Elizabeth McGlamry, along with attorney-coach Carl Gebo (of Adorno & Yoss), who works with the team. Kleber won an award for best attorney and best witness, while McGlamry won best overall attorney for the competition. Here they explain how that plays out, and how participating in Grady’s program makes them better students.
The school’s mock trial team keeps getting better, having placed 13th nationally in 2000, 16th in 2005, eighth in 2009 and third this year. The team faced competition from 29 other teams including teams from Ireland, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Canada. The win earned the team coverage from WXIA (11Alive). Congratulations also go out to Grady head coach Brian Leahy and their teammates: Egan Allen, Abena Amoakuh, David Bufkin, Jasmine Burnett, Atiana Johnson, Troy Kleber, Miller Lansing, Katherine Sherwood, Sam Weinstock and Alix Youngblood. Leahy was assisted by Gebo and fellow local attorney Cecily McLeod.
