Arizona School for the Arts,
Tucson's University High School Show Courtroom Dominance during
'Mock Trial' State Tournament

PHOENIX - April 13, 2010 - Courtroom drama took on a whole new meaning late last month as more than 100 high school students descended upon the Sandra Day O’ Connor Federal Courthouse in downtown Phoenix for the 25th Annual Arizona High School Mock Trial State Tournament.

When the final gavel fell, Valley charter school Arizona School for the Arts Team 2 and Tucson’s University High School ruled the day, claiming three of the four top spots in the team competition.  Flagstaff’s Northland Preparatory Academy Team 2 finished third, eliminating a clean sweep of top team honors by the two schools.

Arizona School of Art's Mock Trial Champions

Claiming the top prize, Arizona Academy of the Arts Team 2 now advances to Philadelphia next month to participate in the National High School Mock Trial Championship.  The team is comprised of teacher Mark Labouchere, attorney-coach Alisan Patten and students Anna Patten, Julia Patten, Juliette Chevallier, Kai Song-Nichols, Kara van Schlifgaarde and Lauren Carroll.

Tucson University High School
Mock Trial 2nd Place Winners

Arizona School for the Art’s Dominique Jordan was also named the Courtroom Artist Contest winner.

Three top performing students received scholarships, with funds provided by the Arizona Association for Defense Counsel. Winners included:

• $500 – Anthony de Gennaro, Tucson University High School
• $250 – Laura Van Slyke, Tucson University High School
• $250 – Emily Agan, Xavier College Preparatory School

Mock Trial $500 Scholarship
Winner Anthony de Gennaro

Eighteen teams from across Arizona showcased knowledge of their constitutional rights and our legal system during the State Tournament, while working on a Light Rail hit-and-run case.

Mock Trial gives students interested in law, public speaking or even the performing arts an opportunity to learn from practicing attorneys. Attorneys have the opportunity to share their legal expertise and skills. Mock Trial teams consist of six to eight students, a teacher-coach and an attorney-coach. Each team must learn both sides of a fictional case and play the roles of both attorneys and witnesses.

Teams work together to learn the facts of the case and create strategies for trial. The goals of the Arizona High School Mock Trial Program are to give students a better understanding of the legal system, increasing their awareness of the importance of law in a democratic society and strengthening their understanding of fundamental rights under the U.S. Constitution. The program promotes increased confidence, poise, speaking skills, critical thinking skills and teamwork skills. Mock Trial is a sponsored program of the State Bar of Arizona’s Young Lawyer Division.

About the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education

The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education provides technical and financial assistance to legal aid organizations, schools and community groups.  The Foundation promotes “Access to Justice for All Arizonans” by supporting law-related education and free legal services and by promoting statewide collaborative efforts.  The Foundation plays a leading role in preparing Arizona students for civic responsibility and reaches more than 100,000 children each year by training teachers, school resource officers and probation officers about our laws, justice system and the foundations of democracy. It is also home of LawForKids.org, America’s first Web site dedicated to teaching students about the law.