Team will represent state at National Mock Trial Competition

NASHVILLE, March 18, 2006 — Knoxville’s West High School won the state championship mock trial competition today, defeating Memphis’ St. Mary’s Episcopal School in the 26th annual Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition. Team member Jennifer Camfield was named Best Defense Advocate and Ian Orr was chosen as the team’s most valuable player. The West team will represent Tennessee at the National Mock Trial Competition in Oklahoma City, May 11-13.

Family Christian Academy, a team of home-school students from Chattanooga, took third place while last year’s champion, Hume-Fogg Academic High School of Nashville, took fourth place.

Individual awards were:
Best Plaintiff Advocate — Tracey Hancock of Gallatin High School
Best Plaintiff Witness — Paige Hamby of Gallatin High School
Best Defense Witness — Harry Watson of Ravenwood High School

Sixteen high school teams from across Tennessee put their legal skills to the test during the Tennessee Bar Association's annual State High School Mock Trial Competition in Nashville. About 180 students and 200 volunteers — mostly, judges, lawyers and law students — gave their time and expertise. Sitting judges in the state presided over each round, with Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia Clark presiding over the championship match.

To reach the state competition, teams had to win district competitions by playing the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a fictitious case developed by the Tennessee Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division. This year, teams presented the case of Dale Evans v. Kris Harris, a civil suit involving a tour bus and pedestrian accident that occurs while tourists are trying to catch a glimpse of a popular country singer.

Teams presented their best arguments as to whether the bus driver or the pedestrian was at fault.

Download a full size photo of winning team