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  • InsideTrack
  • January 06, 2021

    Mock Trial: Volunteers Needed for Online Tournaments

    High School students will argue the case of a murder under quarantine – as the High School Mock Trial tournament moves online for 2021. Volunteers are needed as referees for the online regional and state tournament competitions.

    Jan. 6, 2020 – High School students will argue the case of a murder under quarantine in the State Bar of Wisconsin High School Mock Trial tournament, which moves online for 2021.

    For 2021, the competitions – typically held in locations around the state, with finals in Madison – are moving to Zoom. Volunteers – whether attorneys or judges on the bench – are needed for these competitions.

    “Virtually or in-person, this competition wouldn’t be possible without the participation of numerous volunteers,” said Judge Emily Lonergan, organizer of the program. “This year, you can volunteer from your own home or office.”

    Volunteers needed as judges for:

    • Statewide online regional competitions, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 6-7. There are two sessions per day, at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day.

    • Semi-final online competitions are Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7. There are two sessions per day, at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day.

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

    “If you’re able to volunteer your time to judge in either one of these tournaments, please don’t hesitate to sign up,” said Judge Lonergan.

    The state finals will take place online in March. The state finalist team will compete with a new case at the National Mock Trial competition, to be held in May. Hosted in Evansville, Indiana, the competition will also take place online.

    To volunteer, visit wisbar.org/mocktrial and click the volunteer button. If you have questions, contact Katie Wilcox by email or by phone at (608) 250-6191, or (800) 444-9404, ext. 6191.

    The Case: Murder During Quarantine

    Teams in this year’s Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Competition are tackling a murder mystery set amid COVID-19 quarantining. The setting is in the fictional city of Clearwater, where a resident of an historic mansion is killed in the middle of the family’s quarantining.

    The family, considered eccentric, is at the center of gossip. While local police think they have the mystery solved, students will represent both sides of the case in their attempts to get the jury to agree.

    The Mock Trial program is funded by a generous grant from the Wisconsin Law Foundation, the charitable arm of the State Bar of Wisconsin, which supports law-related education and public service programs statewide.

    Find out more about this year’s Mock Trial events in the Nov. 18, 2020, issue of InsideTrack.


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