The judging panel listens to testimony from a witness during the High School Mock Trial state finals round in March 2019. The panel was led by Judge Stephen Crocker, third from left. The volunteer judges are, from left: Judge Michael Bloom; Judge Michael Blanchard; Judge Stephen Crocker; Kevin Lonergan, chair of the State Bar Public Education Committee; and Judge Rhonda Lanford.

Nov. 20, 2019 – A drowning in the fictional Clearwater Country Club sets the stage for this year’s Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Competition.

The case involves the death of teenager Jonah Stark. Was it actually suicide, perhaps because of relentless bullying, or was the club’s negligence toward safety issues a contributing factor?

Across Wisconsin, more than 100 mock trial teams will take up the debate in Estate of Jonah Stark et. al. v. Clearwater Hills Country Club, competing in regional tournaments on Feb. 8, 2020. Those who make it to the semi-final rounds will meet in Madison on March 13-15. The finalist team will compete in the National High School Mock Trial Championship, May 6-9 in Evansville, Indiana.

The 2020 case was developed by the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Mock Trial Writers Committee headed by Emily Lonergan, chair of the State Bar’s High School Mock Trial program.

Volunteer Judges Needed

Volunteers – whether practicing attorneys or judges on the bench – are needed in these regions: Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Wausau, Wisconsin Rapids.

Volunteers needed as judges for:

• Statewide regional competitions take place Saturday, Feb. 8. Sessions run in the morning (7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and afternoon (12:30 to 5 p.m.).

• Semi-final competitions on Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14, 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.

Generally, volunteers choose to be judges for either the morning or afternoon competitions.

The finals competition will be held on March 15, in the Supreme Court Hearing Room in Madison.

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.

What is Mock Trial?

Students compete in the March 2018 final championship round in Madison.

The Mock Trial program provides high school students with an opportunity to act as attorneys and witnesses in a court case developed by State Bar members.

“Mock trial is more than an extracurricular, it’s a one-of-a-kind, career-level experience that shapes a person’s life and career decisions,” said Judge Emily Lonergan, chair of the committee. “We hope that the experience will lead to a career in law, but in reality, Mock Trial alumni are applying their skills to just about every career field.”

Students will argue the case in teams of six to 12, first at the regional level, then the top 24 teams will advance to the semifinals, and the top two advance to the finals.

“The final round is a special event for the top two teams,” Lonergan said. “These two teams have an opportunity to argue their case in the Wisconsin State Capitol, and the winning team advances to the national competition.”

Since its inception in 1983, the Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Program has brought our legal system to life for thousands of students. Using facts and case materials developed by Wisconsin attorneys, students gain a deeper understanding of the court system as they develop their arguments and build their cases.

Students have the opportunity to:

• analyze and prepare a case

• present as a witness

• argue their assigned role

• receive input and feedback from attorneys and judges

In 2019, around 120 teams – approximately 1,500 high school students assisted by 550 attorney volunteers – participated in the program, competing in regional trials statewide in February, and semifinals and finals in March in Madison. The state finalists compete in a national Mock Trial championship, typically in May.