TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Mar 20, 2023

Nashville-based Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA) was named the 2023 Tennessee State High School Mock Trial champion Saturday night after two days of preliminary trial rounds. It was the school's second back-to-back win and sixth win overall. The school prevailed over Signal Mountain High School of Hamilton County. Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Jeffrey Usman presided over the round while members of the TBA YLD Executive Committee and TBA Board of Governors, including President Tasha Blakney, served as jurors. Earlier in the day, Farragut High School of Knoxville was awarded the 2023 Sportsmanship Award, the top 10 teams were announced, individual awards were presented to the best advocates and witnesses, and an MVP for each team was recognized. Special thanks to Mock Trial Committee Chair Judge Zack Walden, Vice Chair Ashley Tipton and members of the committee for organizing this year's event, which involved 14 teams, close to 200 participants and more than 100 volunteers, including sitting Tennessee judges, lawyers and law students. MBA will now represent Tennessee at the National High School Mock Trial Competition in Little Rock, Arkansas, in May. The team is coached by Nashville lawyers Wade Cowan and Tracy Hancock.