Yls President
| Publication year | 2019 |
| Pages | 13 |
| Citation | Vol. 88 No. 1 Pg. 13 |
KBA YLS Sponsors the Kansas High School Mock Trial Competition
by Sarah Morse
One of the KBA Young Lawyer Section's biggest projects each year is the Kansas High School Mock Trial competition. By organizing and hosting the only competition in Kansas that can send the winning team to the National High School Mock Trial Association's Championship, the KBA YLS serves Kansas high school students and possible future Kansas lawyers by encouraging an understanding and appreciation of the American judicial system and providing valuable academic opportunities.
Several hundred high school students participate in the Kansas High School Mock Trial competition each year. Preparation for the 2019 competition began in late-December when the case materials were posted to the KBA website. Materials provided to students vary according to the year's case but often include witness statements, charging documents, incident reports, and photographs. This year, the case the high school students will try is a civil matter involving a student running for student council at a public high school. The student was prepared to give a speech on religion as the foundation for his platform, but the school told him that it is against separation of church and state for him to give his speech as planned.
The students participating in the competition will prepare to represent both sides of the case and will be assigned as plaintiff's or defense counsel prior to each round. Students prepare opening statements, lines of direct and cross-examinations, and closing arguments. In addition, students are expected to object and respond to opposing counsel's arguments. The students are evaluated on both their presentation style and the substance of their questions and objections.
The success of the Kansas High School Mock Trial competition is due in large part to the hard work of Bill Walberg and Casey Walker, KBA YLS Mock Trial Co-Chairs. Walberg and Walker chose this year's case from a national database and adapted it for use in the Kansas competition, developed the case materials, and will coordinate with the participating high schools, and organize the regional and state tournaments. But they need assistance to make the competition as valuable for the high school students as possible.
The students are judged by volunteers, and although being a litigator (or even an attorney) is not...
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