The Brookfield Academy team poses for a photo at the regionals tournament on Feb. 3. The team will compete in the semifinal tournament. Photo: Submitted.
Feb. 21, 2024 – They gathered at courthouses around the state in the first weekend in February: close to 100 teams of high school students taking on a fictitious civil liability case.
The students competed in the Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Tournament. Funded by the Wisconsin Law Foundation, the charitable arm of the State Bar, and founded in 1983, the program helps students gain a deeper understanding of our legal system while developing leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Get Involved: Volunteers Needed for Semifinals March 1-2 in Madison
Volunteers – whether practicing attorneys or judges on the bench – are needed March 1 and 2, 2024, when 20 teams compete in the semifinals tournament at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison. Visit Wisbar.org to sign up. The finals competition is Sunday, March 3, in the Capitol Building in Madison.
Judging mock trial competition is a great opportunity to help the students get to know how the legal system works. Mike Progar, who volunteered as a judge for the Madison regional tournament in early February, said his favorite part is interacting with the students.
“They have new ideas, new ways of doing things, new ways of looking at things,” Progar said. “It gives me some perspective in where the legal system may be going in the future.”
Volunteer judges for the regionals in Juneau pose for a photo before the start of the tournament on Feb. 3. Photo: Submitted.
The 2024 Mock Trial Teams Headed to State
Congratulations to these teams who will compete in the Wisconsin High School Mock Trial semifinals tournament in Madison on March 1-2, 2024:
Appleton West High School Bay Port High School, Green Bay Brookfield Academy, Brookfield Cedarburg High School Franklin High School Lodi High School Madison West High School Nicolet High School, Glendale Reedsburg High School Rhinelander High School | | River Falls High School River Valley High School, Spring Green Shorewood High School Sun Prairie West High School Superior High School Waukesha South High School Waunakee High School Wausau West High School Whitefish Bay High School Xavier High School, Appleton |
Volunteer Judges Needed – Here’s How to Sign Up
Volunteers – whether practicing attorneys or judges on the bench – are needed for semifinal competitions on Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2, in Madison. Session times are Friday from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
To volunteer, visit wisbar.org/mocktrial, click the volunteer button, and sign up for the semi-finals. If you have questions, contact Katie Wilcox by email or by phone at (608) 250-6191, or (800) 444-9404, ext. 6191.
