Two PJHS Teams ranked Superior at Mock Trial Showcase

Junior High Students from across the state gathered at the Ohio Supreme Court Building in Columbus during the month of April to compete in the Ohio Center for Law Related Education Mock Trial Showcase. Perrysburg Junior High sent two teams to try the case of Rhode Island v. Charlotte Doyle, adapted from the historical novel The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi.

Nikhil Methi of Team Providence was recognized as an Outstanding Attorney and Katie Osten and Brayden Hickerson received Outstanding Witness recognitions.

Other Team Providence members include Attorneys Ysabella Aromas and Raushni Bumrah and Witnesses Andrew Chung and Evan White and Jim Huynh as the Bailiff. The Providence Defense members include Jack Lamberger as Attorney and Alan Trivedi and Arthur Chen as Witnesses.

Fionna Lam of Team Veritas received the Outstanding Witness award for her team. Other members of Team Veritas are Prosecuting Attorneys Lauren Gorcz and Ben Liederbach, Prosecution Witnesses Ashley Strayer, Lucas Fiscus and Nicholas Smith with Diego Diaz as the Bailiff. The Veritas Defense Attorneys are Adam Roberts and Daniel Mills. The Defense Witnesses are Calvin Siefke and Andrew Gudgeon.

Both teams were ranked Superior by the judges. 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.

Jackie Shultz, an attorney, is the school advisor. Ted Kurt, Esq. and Mary Sue Barone, Esq. assist her and retired Perrysburg Municipal Court Judge S. Dwight Osterud.

“I am extremely proud of our 7th and 8th graders,” said Jackie Shultz. “Mock Trial is not easy and these students worked very hard, but I think each of them would tell you it was an experience they won’t forget.” Several of the Perrysburg High School Mock Trial Club members also assisted with the teams: Jillian Craig, Jack Robinson, Hanan Sjah and Chloe Wegener.