Court Hosts Mock Trials
“All rise!”
The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court welcomed hundreds of students from 23 Cuyahoga County schools into its courtrooms on Friday, January 17, for the Ohio High School Mock Trial district competition.
The Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE) organizes the state-wide event, which offers students an innovative approach to learning the law and how our legal system operates. Guided by teachers and volunteer legal advisors, students take part in an original, unscripted simulated trial where they take on the roles of attorneys, witnesses, and bailiffs/timekeepers. OCLRE and a committee of volunteers create an original, unscripted case every year that is based on a constitutional issue that serves as the basis for the simulated trial.
Each mock trial team presents their case as both the prosecution and defense. Teams are randomly paired against another team, switching sides and opponents in each trial. One trial is held in the morning, and a second in the afternoon.
A dozen Common Pleas courtrooms were used for the day-long competition, along with four Cleveland Municipal courtrooms and ten courtrooms in the historic old courthouse. Most mock trial competitions are held on weekends, but this was held on a Friday to accommodate the schools.
“It’s an honor to be able to host the next generation of attorneys,” says Administrative and Presiding Judge Brendan J. Sheehan. “While these are mock trials, allowing them to use our courtrooms fosters a sense of what a real trial would be like. These students have worked hard and take this competition very seriously.”
The winners of the district competition will return on Friday, February 7, for the regional competition. The finals will be held at the Ohio Supreme Court in Columbus in March.
In front of Judge John J. Russo.
In front of Judge William F.B. Vodrey.