Let The Mock Trials Begin
February 22nd, 2013
Judge Platzer
St. Clair County Bar Association is hosting the 8th Annual Mock Trial Tournament Saturday, February 23, 2013, beginning at 8:30am at the County Courthouse and is open to the public. Nine local high schools are participating with a total of 13 teams. Mock Trial is a competitive extracurricular activity where students form teams to perform the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a simulated court case before a jury. The jury is made up of real judges, attorneys, and citizens from the community. The competition is designed to reenact much of what might take place in trial courts. Students are coached by a partnership of at least one (1) teacher coach and at least one (1) lawyer coach, who volunteer their time and talents. The high schools participating this year are: Algonac, Anchor Bay, Capac, Marine City Cardinal Mooney, Marine City High School, Memphis, Port Huron High, Port Huron Northern, and Yale. Teacher and attorneys coaches have invested countless hours of their own personal time working with these students. ”This program allows the lawyers and judges to partner with teachers to foster in each student an awareness of and respect for the law,” said Judge Cynthia S. Platzer, chairperson of St. Clair County Bar Association Mock Trial program. “Mock Trial provides students an incredible opportunity to learn invaluable life lessons on how to develop, organize and present their theory of the case through team effort; how to speak effectively to persuade others; how to think on their feet in responding to objections or in effectively drawing out inconsistencies in the opposition’s case via cross examination; how to demonstrate civility and respect for themselves and their abilities, for their case, for their opposition’s case and abilities, and, for the law.” Students gain valuable public speaking and presentation skills, communications and persuasion skills, analytical skills, and a keen insight into the tools of the trade of the legal profession. Teams receive the case in early November and begin developing and practicing a team strategy throughout the next four (4) months until participating in the Competition the last Saturday of February. Students are required to present both sides of the case in the three (3) round Competition, with teams alternating in prosecuting and defending. During a round, each side presents an opening statement, direct and cross examination of witnesses, and a closing argument. The rounds are time limited and judged. Students and teams are scored and awarded for individual performances and team performances.The Judge John G. Cummings Professionalism Award was established in 2012. This award is designed to create in each student and team awareness of the importance of professionalism and ethics in presenting their case. The students evaluate each other on appearance, proficiency in addressing jury/judge, compliance with mock trial rules, attitude and persuasion. The award was named for Judge John G. Cummings, retired Judge of the 72nd District Court, who for some fifty (50) years in the practice of law and on the bench demonstrated the epitome of professionalism. Over 60 volunteers from the community, court staff, and the local area police departments all work to put on this one day event for the students. The event, Saturday February 23, 2013, is open to the public beginning 8:30am to 3:30pm at the County Courthouse. The awards presentation is at