Students compete at state mock trial

Earning a trip to the Federal Courthouse in Portland for the 2008 Oregon High School Mock Trial competition for the first time was a feat to be proud of for the Sisters High School team.

While the team wasn't among the top placers, finishing 15th among 20 teams from throughout Oregon, they were very competitive and much-improved from the regional competition just two weeks earlier, according to coach Mary Thomas.

The case this year was "State vs. Campbell" in which a student, Casey Campbell, is accused of planting an explosive device in a high school cafeteria with the intent to harm a well-known school bully and his gang of friends.

The Sisters team traveled to the Mark Hatfield Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland early Friday, March 14 and competed in round one of the competition that afternoon.

Each team is guaranteed three rounds and at least one chance to prosecute as well as defend. A judge and two jury members, typically attorneys, score each team, and points are tabulated to determine winners of each round. Whether the defendant is found guilty or innocent does not factor into the score.

"After our match with Jesuit on Saturday, the judge told both teams that they were the best he had seen thus far and was very complimentary about how poised and well-prepared the students were," she said.

In the final round against La Grande High School, the Sisters team once again held its own. Scores of each round have not yet been made available to teams, but Thomas knows that her team gave its best and learned a great deal in the process.

"There are so many levels of learning that take place in mock trial," she said. "The kids are acting, analyzing, thinking on their feet, following strict protocols and working as a team in a real courtroom. It's tremendous."

The mock trial team has been the only academically based club in the school, but another competitive group, "We the People" under the direction of Jon Renner, has also sprung up as part of a social studies class. Both programs are supported by the Classroom Law Project, which is a non-profit organization of educators, lawyers and civic leaders.

Team members included Hayden Stein, Benton Urquhart, Sam Fullhart, Seth Rodriguez, Ryanne Conrads, Emi Conrads, Erin Kanzig, Claire Kanzig, Jenny Irwin, Dylan Hicks, Sydney Randall, Jake Lasken and Jessie Heath.

The winner of this year's competition, West Salem, will represent Oregon at the National Mock Trial competition set for May in Delaware.