From April 16 to 19, Matthew McNaul’s and Matthew Elder’s high school law class held two mock trials with their students.
The trials took place in both teacher’s classrooms during the class at 4th period and were not open for the school to watch.
Students played either a witness or a lawyer, and extra students sat in a jurors who ultimately decided the verdicts. Each trial had multiple lawyers, who each divided up the different responsibilities of a lawyer such as closing statements and cross examinations.
The first trial in McNaul’s room was about a student accused of setting fireworks off in his school locker, and in the end the jury found the defendant guilty on one charge.
The second trial dealt with a driver accused of reckless driving after he hit a child crossing the street on his bike. During this trial, the law class used a wheelchair as a prop to make the scene feel more realistic. The charges were eventually dropped against the defendant due to the jury being unable to come to a decision.
Brooke Hescox, a lawyer for the trials, was glad to have the opportunity to be put in an attorney’s shoes. “The process of getting the trial ready seemed a little lengthy, but the work paid off in the end.”
Bellwood’s law class has been staging mock trials since right before COVID-19 back in 2020 with McNaul as it’s teacher, although this year is Elder’s first time getting to participate in the trials.
“[The trials] give the class hands on experience with everything we have been talking about,” stated Elder. “We went through what lawyers do, wrote opening statements, and things like that.”
Overall, both teachers were impressed by the trials and are proud of the quality effort their students put into them.
Watch our newscast of the mock trial above.
