ArkBar News
2020 Arkansas High School Mock Trial Competition Thank you to all of the volunteers who made the 2020 Mock Trial Competition a success. In this year’s high school mock trial case, students tried the case of State of Arkansas v. Landry Brighton. We were making progress toward crowning a state champion when the competition had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Brighton was charged with murder in the stabbing death of Lucky Lou Gianna, who was in federal witness protection at the time of his death. The prosecution’s theory was that Gianna’s death was the result of a dispute between neighbors. Brighton argued that the mafia found and murdered Gianna. Students competed at regional competition on March 7, 2020, in Conway, Fayetteville, and Jonesboro. Teams from Conway High School, Bentonville High School, and Springdale Har-Ber High School were recognized as regional champions. Teams from Springdale High School, Little Rock Central High School, Mount St. Mary and Catholic High Schools, Bryant High School, and North Little Rock High School also qualified for state competition. The following week, however, the Mock Trial Subcommittee announced the postponement of the state championship. At the time, the Subcommittee hoped that it would truly be a delay and not a cancellation. Unfortunately, between the Arkansas Activities Association cancelling spring events, schools being closed for the rest of the academic year, and courthouses limiting access, there was no clear path for holding the competition. The Mock Trial Subcommittee would like to thank volunteers who helped judge at regionals and those who had planned to judge at the state championship. The Subcommittee would also like to thank employees at the University of Arkansas School of Law, the Craighead County Circuit Courthouse, and the Faulkner County Justice Building for hosting regional competition. The Mock Trial Subcommittee will soon be making plans for the 2021 competition. We hope that members of the Arkansas Bar Association will help make it special. There are a number of different ways members can help. First, the Mock Trial Subcommittee is always seeking members to serve on the Subcommittee. Members interested in serving on the subcommittee should so indicate on their committee preference forms. Second, we always encourage members to approach their local high schools about starting mock trial programs. Finally, we need members to volunteer to serve as attorney-coaches (particularly in smaller, less-resourced school districts) and to serve as judges for competition. —Anthony L. McMullen, Mock Trial Committee Chair Nathan Bogart Abby Brenneman Beverly I. Brister Andrea Brock Kelly Brown Elizabeth Caldwell Aaron Cash Brian Clary Robert Coleman Casey D. Copeland Cory Crawford Judge Don Curdie Jason Davis Meagan Elizabeth Davis Jeannie L. Denniston William Alan Finer
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The Arkansas Lawyer
Bobby Forrest, Jr. Donna Galloway Karen Gillespie Lauren Graham Sarah E. Greenwood Adrienne Morris Griffis Christian Harris Michael B. Heister Denise Hoggard Glen Hoggard Ben Hooten Johnathan D. Horton Lori D. Howard Christopher M. Hussein Matthew C. Hutsell Adam Jackson
www.arkbar.com
Parker Jones Kristen Komander Dominique Lane DeAnn Lehigh William C. Mann, III Richard Bryant Marshall Jonathan Martin Skye Martin Heather Renee Martin-Herron Judge Mary Spencer McGowan Anthony L. McMullen Robert Minarcin Barrett Moore Andrew Nadzam Ashley Elizabeth Norman Joseph Paul Smith
John Pesek Constance Brown Phillips Susan M. Purtle Elizabeth Richardson Casey Nicole Richmond Danielle Robertson Mallory Sanders Lindsey Sullivan Jordan Brown Tinsley James D. Tomlin Tim Watson Judge Chip Welch Matthew D. Wells Nic Williams Dennis Zolper
