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Springfield High School Wins First State Title
 Members of the Springfield High School team celebrate after being awarded the 2014 championship trophy in the 34th Annual Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia Clark, who presided over the championship round, poses with the team. See other photos from the championship round. All photos by Liz Todaro of the Tennessee Bar Association unless otherwise noted. NASHVILLE, March 25, 2014 — The Springfield High School mock trial team claimed the 2014 Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Championship title, defeating White Station High School of Memphis. The team now will represent Tennessee at the National High School Mock Trial Competition May 8-10 in Madison, Wis. The two-day state competition, sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, involved 16 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 Cornelia Clark presided over the championship match Saturday evening. The teams put their skills to the test arguing the fictitious case of Jessie Jameson v. Jordan Evergreen, which involved allegations that a hit song climbing the country charts violated the copyright of a song penned by Jameson, a struggling singer-songwriter. The infringement suit claimed that Jordan “Catnip” Evergreen had access to Jameson’s song. The plaintiff’s team relied on the expert testimony of musicologist Dr. Doe Raymie who argued that the hit song was substantially similar to the one written by Jameson. The defense argued that Evergreen did not factually copy the song and that there was no similarity between the lyrics. With two original songs written and recorded specifically for the competition, this year’s case presented unique challenges, but also included the usual twists and turns that challenge students to think on their feet as they present their best arguments. It was Springfield's first year to compete in the championship round. 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 YLD President David McDowell, an attorney with Gearhiser, Peters, Elliott, & Cannon in Chattanoogga, 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. |
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Top 10 Teams1. Springfield High School, Springfield 2. White Station High School, Memphis 3. Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashville 4. Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Home Education Association (CSTHEA) Green Team, Chattanooga 5. Franklin High School, Franklin 6. Dyersburg High School, Dyersburg 7. Unicoi County High School, Erwin 8. The Webb School, Bell Buckle 9. Harpeth Hall School, Nashville 10. Bearden High School, Knoxville Other Teams CompetingChattanooga Southeast Tennessee Home Education Association (CSTHEA) Blue Team, Chattanooga Jefferson County High School Kingsport Area Christian Home Education Association, Kingsport St. Mary’s Episcopal School, Memphis Science Hill High School Smith County High School Sportsmanship Award
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