Students to compete in annual mock trial

Six teams will vie in contest Saturday

High school students from all around western Arizona will have an opportunity to put their legal skills to the test in a real courtroom this weekend during the 2018 Arizona Mock Trial Competition for Region 1.

Sponsored by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education and the Young Lawyers of Arizona, this year’s regional tournament will be held on Saturday, March 3, at the Yuma County Justice Center, 250 W. 2nd St. in Yuma.

The competition, which is free to attend and open to the public, is expected to start following the 7:30 a.m. registration.

Every year, high school students compete as attorney advocates in a trial scenario authored by the two organizations. All together, six separate teams are expected to compete.

The teams are made up of students from Cibola High School, Lake Havasu High School, and Yuma Catholic High School. The team with the highest overall score will advance to the State competition at the Sandra Day O’Connor Federal Courthouse in Phoenix on March 24.

According to information provided by the Arizona High School Mock Trial Program, the competition is designed to capture the interest and participation of high school students in the law and give students a better understanding of the legal system — from rules of evidence to proper courtroom demeanor, increasing their awareness of the importance of law in a democratic society.

Additionally, the release states that the mock trial is designed to strengthen the students’ understanding of their fundamental rights under the United States Constitution and increase their confidence, poise, oral skills, critical thinking, teamwork, as well as provide a unique opportunity to learn from practicing attorneys and judges.

Other sponsors include the State Bar of Arizona, Young Lawyers’ Division, and the Yuma County Bar Association.