Mock Trial
The Independence Middle School Mock Trial Team is now forming for this year. There will be a signup sheet at the Middle School office or you can sign up directly with me via the Remind Mock Trial Classroom by sending a text to 81010 texting @mrwbenos. Please include your ipride email address. Parents/Guardians can, and are encouraged to, join the Remind classroom as well. This year’s case is State of Arizona v. Susanna Morales and it is based upon the book: Greystone Secrets: THE STRANGERS by Margaret Peterson Haddix. A single team can have between 6 and 12 members. Right now it is planned that the majority of the practices will be after school on Wednesday in the school library (media center). There may be Zoom practices as well and other events (such as scrimmages with other schools).
Combine middle school students' love of argument with a love of good literature. Middle School Mock Trial cases are literature-based, with cases constructed from books most commonly read in the middle grades. Students learn first-hand about the law, court procedures, and the judicial system while also building critical 21st-century skills.
Middle School Mock Trial cases are based on popular literature, written by teams of teachers and lawyers. Middle school students act as witnesses and attorneys to argue cases involving their favorite characters. The program was designed with Ohio’s Learning Standards for social studies and English/language arts in mind and is ideal for interdisciplinary teaching. Students read and analyze witness statements drawn from the characters in the books. Students then work collaboratively to develop arguments for both sides and develop strategies to question the witnesses.
OCLRE Mock Trial provides the opportunity for students to put together a coherent argument for their side of the case using furnished testimonial and physical evidence. The comprehensive approach includes reading a case summary, trial briefs, and witness statements.
