MEMBER CENTER
Kingsport Home School Wins 1st State Title,
Moves on to Nationals
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Photo by Stacey Shrader Joslin of the Tennessee Bar Association |
NASHVILLE, March 20, 2013 — The Kingsport Area Christian Home Education Association (KACHEA) team claimed the state high school mock trial championship title this past weekend, defeating Montgomery Bell Academy of Nashville. The team now will represent Tennessee at the National High School Mock Trial Competition in Indianapolis, Ind., May 9-11.
The two-day state competition, sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, involved 14 teams and 200 volunteers, including lawyers, law students and paralegals. In addition, sitting judges in the state presided over the trial rounds at the Metro Davidson County Courthouse in downtown Nashville. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice William Koch presided over the championship match Saturday evening.
The teams put their skills to the test arguing the fictitious case of State of Tennessee v. Cameron Paul, in which an auto mechanic is suspected of murdering Thor Brush, an investment broker who gets local businessmen to invest in a sham company. News of the scheme breaks and clients, including Paul, find they have lost everything. Brush is indicted and awaiting trial when he dies in a car crash. Paul had recently worked on Brush’s car and police determine the brakes were deliberately loosened. The state argues that Paul – upset about his financial loss – intentionally tampered with the car. The defense places blame on Brush, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was texting, and had fatal levels of medication in his system at the time of the crash.
It was KACHEA’s first year to compete in the championship round. It placed fourth last year. To reach the state competition, each team had to win its respective district competition held throughout February.
At a ceremony immediately preceding the championship round, students were recognized for their efforts. TBA President Jackie Dixon, an attorney with Weatherly McNally & Dixon PLC in Nashville, presented awards to the top 10 teams, the best lawyers and witnesses, the most valuable players for each team, and the team exhibiting the best sportsmanship-like behavior. See photos from the award ceremony below.
See photos of the championship round here.
Top 10 Teams
All photos by Landry Butler of the Tennessee Bar Association unless otherwise noted.
1. Kingsport Area Christian Home Education Association, Kingsport
Attorney Coach: David A. Greene, Covenant Trust LLC
(See photo above)
2. Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashville
Attorney Coach: Wade B. Cowan, Davies, Humphreys, Horton & Reese PLC
(Photo by Stacey Shrader Joslin of the Tennessee Bar Association)
3. Germantown High School, Germantown
Attorney Coach: Jay Watson, Attorney at Law
4. Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Home Education Association, Chattanooga
Attorney Coaches: Hamilton County Chancellor Jeff Atherton & Scott Maucere,
Maucere Law Group
5. Harpeth Hall, Nashville
Attorney Coaches: Joy Boyd, Christy Crider & Maia Woodhouse, all with
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC
6. Beech High School, Hendersonville
Attorney Coach: Thomas Dean, 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office
7. Westminster Academy, Memphis
Attorney Coach: Stephen Leffler, Leffler Law Office
8. McCallie School, Chattanooga
Attorney Coach: Ira Long Jr., Weill & Long PLLC
9. The Webb School, Bell Buckle
Attorney Coach: Kathleen Camp, The Webb School
10. Franklin High School, Franklin
Attorney Coach: Terry E. Wood, 21st Judicial District Attorney General’s Office
Other Schools Competing
Bearden High School, Knoxville
Attorney Coach: W. Matthew McWhirter, Bearden High School
Dyersburg High School, Dyersburg
Attorney Coach: Jeff Lay, Jones, Hamilton & Lay
Jefferson County High School, Dandridge
Attorney Coach: NA
Smith County High School, Carthage
Attorney Coaches: J. Branden Bellar, Bellar & Winkler & Jacqueline M. Scott, Attorney at Law
Team Sportsmanship Award
Smith County High School of Carthage -- in its first visit to the state competition --
took the Team Sportsmanship Award. The award recipient is based on the votes
of other teams and presiding judges. The team is coached by J. Branden Bellar
with Bellar & Winkler and Jacqueline M. Scott, Attorney at Law, both of Carthage.
Individual Awards
Best Advocate for the Prosecution |
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Caroline Rogers (left) with Bearden High School was named the competition's Best Advocate for the Prosecution. |
Melissa Temple with the Kingsport Home School team took second place in the Best Advocate for the Prosecution category. |
Magi Higazi with Germantown High School took third place in the Best Advocate for the Prosecution category. |
Best Advocate for the Defense |
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Brennan Day with Bearden High School was named the competition's Best Advocate for the Defense. |
Cat Weiss with Harpeth Hall took second place in the Best Advocate for the Defense category. Due to an oversight she was not recognized publicly at the award ceremony. |
Aaron Long with the McCallie School took third place in the Best Advocate for the Defense category. |
Best Witness for the Prosecution |
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Marianne Dodson with Bearden High School was named Best Witness for the Prosecution. |
Avery Field with Beech High School took second place in the Best Witness for the Prosecution category. |
Lindsey Dunn with Dyersburg High School took third place in the Best Witness for the Prosecution category. |
Best Witness for the Defense |
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McKay Proctor with Montgomery Bell Academy was named Best Witness for the Defense. |
Brandon Lynan with Bearden High School placed second in the Best Witness for the Defense category. |
Maddie Bouton with Franklin High School took third place in the Best Witness for the Defense category. |
Team Most Valuable Players (MVPs) |
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Brandon Lynan with Bearden High School |
Avery Field with Beech High School |
Camille Heartfield with Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Home Education Association |
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Noah Mulvaney with Dyersburg High School |
Maddie Bouton with Franklin High School |
Rachel Dufour with Germantown High School |
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Sarah Abel with Harpeth Hall |
Jessie McGaha with Jefferson County High School |
Phillip Bunn with Kingsport Area Christian Home Education Association |
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Aaron Long with the McCallie School |
McKay Proctor with Montgomery Bell Academy |
Beau Carr with Smith County High School |
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Adam Mansell with The Webb School |
Amy Hall with Westminster Academy |
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