MS Mock Trial
For Middle School Mock Trial this year, we have two teams each with 7 members. We have 7th and 8th graders mixed on each team. Our teams are-
Team Guy Fieri: Kyra Van Berkum, Lillian Jorth, Elise Kahl, Amber Langholdt, Anika Springer, Adeline Harms, and Emory Lincecum
Team Gordon Ramsey: Claire Reiter, Thane Jansma, Jason Huyser, Egan Pedersen, Cael Schipper, Caleb Kooiker, and Elijah Kruse.
Our case has an element of food and TV personalities to it, hence the team names.
The case is based on a murder that occurred at a restaurant in Bondurant, IA. One business partner of the restaurant was murdered, and the other partner is on trial. The partner that is on trial had been contacted about becoming a TV cooking personality and was potentially leaving to go to Hollywood to pursue a TV career. The partner who was murdered had a history of gambling and was found to have been embezzling from the restaurant (which leads to a potential motive- revenge!)
The case involves 3 witnesses for each side of the trial (Plaintiff and Defense.) There are 4 attorneys on each side who question witnesses, as well as present the Opening and Closing statements of the case. The competition itself is not based on the outcome of the case, participants are judged on how they present themselves and the strategies they use to try and win.
Our regional competition takes place in Sioux City at the Convention Center on November 3. There will be 3 rounds of competition, and each of our teams will present their case in 2 rounds that day (although we will not compete against each other.) We will find out at the end of the day if we are able to advance on to the state competition!