Around the Bar

AROUND THE BAR By: Bridget Pyman

Arnett, Draper and Hagood, LLP

Isaac Westling

Law Offices of James A.H. Bell, P.C.

HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION

The High School Mock Trial Competition occurred during the first weekend of March. One hundred nineteen competitors comprised nine teams from eight high schools representing Tennessee Districts 2, 3, and 4. The competing schools included Knoxville Central, Farragut, Jefferson County, Knoxville Catholic (Gold), Knoxville Catholic (Green), L & N STEM Academy, Powell, Sevier County, and Webb School of Knoxville.

All nine teams participated in four preliminary rounds. The Knoxville City County Building hosted the competitors, their coaches, and their friends and families on March 4th and 5th. The students competed in the courtrooms that the Knox County Judiciary members generously made available for the event. We extend our gratitude to Judges Deborah Stevens, Bill Ailor, Jerome Melson, Greg McMillan, Scott Green, Kyle Hixson, Tony Stansberry, and Steve Sword for permitting us to use their courtrooms, providing the competitors with an encriched and realistic mock trial experience.

During the preliminary rounds, the following competitors stood out among their peers and were recognized for their exceptional mock trial skills: • James Long (Knox Catholic Gold) as Best Advocate for the Prosecution; • Isaac Katz (Central) as Best Advocate for the Defense; • Andrew Beatty (Powell) as Best Witness for the Prosecution; and • Hannah Simmons (Powell) as Best Witness for the Defense.

After the preliminary rounds concluded, Farragut and Knox Catholic Green prevailed as the competition frontrunners and advanced to the District Championship held on March 6th at the Lincoln Memorial School of Law.

The Championship featured a highly-qualified panel of scoring judges comprised of attorneys Marty McCampbell, Nate Ogle, and Daniel Herrera, each of whom evaluated the competitors’ performances as advocates and witnesses during the mock criminal trial. The Honorable Suzanne Bauknight presided over the Championship as Farragut prosecuted the case and Knox Catholic Green advocated for the defendant.

Knox Catholic Green triumphed at the District Championship, earning a spot to compete in the State Mock Trial Tournament slated to take place on March 25th and 26th in Nashville.

Without our roster of dedicated volunteers, it would have been impossible to make this great event a reality. Thank you, again, to the judges, attorneys, and law students who served as presiding judges, scoring judges, bailiffs, and to those who were willing to lend a helping hand whenever the need arose.

We likewise thank Judicial Clerk Esther Roberts and the staff of the Public Building Authority for their assistance in arranging and securing the Knoxville City County Building facilities; Allison StarnesAnglea and Lincoln Memorial University School of Law for hosting the Championship round; and Marsha Watson, Chandler Fletcher, and the KBA Staff for all the support they provided us over the past several months as we all worked to ensure a smoothly run competition. We are truly privileged to boast such an involved and supportive bar association.

We leave you with one final sentiment with the intent to provide insight into the impact that your participation in this event has on the student competitors; in the words of a coach, “You should all be proud of the work you did to provide all of our students with an exciting and professional exposure to the practice of law. They were excited, tired, and overwhelmed at times, but they will never forget their time thundering about the courtroom.”

Attorney Volunteers

Jimmy Snodgrass

Courteney Barnes-Anderson Dillon Zinser Emily Horton Allison Starnes-Anglea Charles Sharrett Hon. Suzanne Bauknight Kelsey Reilly Marty McCampbell James Bell Nicole Turbinton Jacob Refner Daniel Herrera Robert DeBusk Elaine Herrera Katie Ogle Nate Ogle Meagan Collver Jason Collver Jenny Rogers Brian Sableman Donald “D.T.” Christmas

Rachel Hurt Matt Knable

Law Student Volunteers

Elizabeth Luminoso Ira Lee Regan Nease Megan Burgess Kayla Long Thomas Gutwein Andrew Short Bree Conner Kimberly Trotter Landie Kitts Holly Nehls Lindy Harlow Isabelle Thibault Micalah Soileau