Moot Court vs. Mock Trial – What’s the Difference?

Mock trial, moot court – two competitions and two high-school-team winners. Do you know the difference between these two programs?

Mock Trial

A “mock” trial means a trial acted out by students as if they were trying a case before a judge or jury. Students play all parts in the trial as attorneys, clients, and witnesses. Opening statements, direct and cross examination, and closing arguments are all part of the mock trial.

 

In March, 300 high school students from 32 teams competed in a three-day mock trial event. At the 32nd Annual High School Mock Trial Competition, Westerville North High School defeated Ashland High School. Westerville North, by the way, continued in the competition to place 10th at the National High School Mock Trial Championship earlier this month. Congratulations, Westerville North!

 

Moot Court

 

The word moot means “in dispute,” and this program differs from portrayal of a trial because it allows students to act as attorneys for an appeal.

 

The moot court experience lets students handle an appeal of a simulated case that has already been tried. A losing party to a case always has the right to appeal to one of the 12 appellate courts in Ohio, and a panel of three judges will make a decision based on the written papers (briefs) and the oral arguments of the attorneys. There are no witnesses, just the attorneys arguing their legal positions to the judges. 

 

The student-lawyers in moot court argue for the appellant (who wants reversal) or the appellee (who wants the decision affirmed.) Springfield High School students recently won the second annual Moot Court Competition where more than 100 students representing 16 high schools across Ohio appeared before a panel of judges and lawyers and argued their cases as appellate attorneys.  Hooray, Springfield!

 

The Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE) sponsors these programs and hosts the civic competitions for students.  Teachers should know that younger students can benefit from studying the court system as well. OCLRE has started hosting a middle school mock trial showcase where students learn about the roles of judges, attorneys, and witnesses from classic books read in school when they act out the characters in a legal setting.

 

The Ohio Supreme Court supports OCLRE along with the ACLU of Ohio Foundation, the Attorney General’s Office, the Ohio State Bar Foundation, and the Ohio State Bar Association.

 

Not Just Miss Manners! The Civility Project

Last month my post talked about the new Courtroom to Classroom project sponsored by the Ohio Supreme Court. Today, I’m happy to mention another program.

The Middle School Civility Project is a package of seven lessons available to middle school teachers with embedded links and references.  And these civility lessons are more than about etiquette.

In these times of increased social media and less face-to-face-contact, students need to see that it is important to respect and value their peers and act civilly toward others, particularly when disagreements arise. When middle school students don’t know how to react to conflict or pressure from their classmates, teachers, and parents, they may cope by disruptive behavior and bullying.

In an effort to address civility and teach students how to avoid patterns of behavior that harm others, OCLREdeveloped new curriculum in a series of activities designed to help students become aware of their rights and responsibilities and respond to conflict with others through mediation. Students are also shown how to start a service learning project in their schools.

The civility project lessons include:

·         What Is Civility?

·         Acts of Civility Around School

·         Citizens’ Rights and Responsibilities

·         Communication and Conflict Resolution

It’s hoped that early lessons about respect for others and the appropriate ways of handling disputes might counteract the development of later criminal behavior. These lessons are intended to help teachers assist their young students in becoming better citizens.

TEACHERS!

The curriculum can be used in the classroom or as a project for OCLRE’s Youth for Justice program. It is supported by The Thomas J. Moyer Legacy Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association and funded by the Ohio State Bar Foundation.

2015 Mock Trial Competition Deadline Ahead

Teachers, this is your chance to be part of the largest high school mock trial program in the nation.  The registration deadline for teams and participants is December 5.

The Ohio Center for Law-Related Education is gearing up for the new school year, which means it’s time for the 2015 Mock Trial Competition. The competition allows students to assume the roles of attorneys and witnesses as they learn about the constitution and their rights as citizens. Many students “catch the spark” in this program and later become lawyers.  For instance, my son, Judge Joshua Lanzinger of the Toledo Municipal Court, is just one example of a former high school participant.

Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor supports teacher and student participation in the competition. She and Ohio State Bar Association President Martin Mohler talk about this year’s mock trial case.

High School Mock Trial 2015 Competition dates:

·         District Competitions:  Friday, January 30, 2015

·         Regional Competitions:  Friday, February 20, 2015

·         State Competition:  Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, March 12 – 14, 2015

 

For more information about becoming involved with the Ohio High School Mock Trial program, please contact Priya Sonty: psonty@oclre.org, 614-485-3507.

Don’t miss this great opportunity – act by December 5!

Students for Justice

You are never too young to think about justice.  Have you ever heard someone bullying another?  Seen an animal being abused?  Watched property being trashed?  If you aren’t an adult yet, can you do anything about things that are wrong?  Sometimes it takes only a little suggestion to help make the world a better place.

Take a look at Ohio middle school students in these pictures. These activists are trying to tackle tough-to-talk-about problems such as bullying, pregnancy, homelessness, and domestic violence. They, along with more than 150 other students, had the chance to showcase their solutions at the 19th annual Youth for Justice Summit in Columbus sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education.

Youth for Justice is designed to empower young people to be actively engaged citizens  working together to make a positive difference in their communities. Students identify a problem relevant to them, then develop and implement solutions.  This idea can be useful at your school, too.

Let’s give congratulations to the four teams who received the Outstanding Project Award:

“Fighting Bullying,” Greensview Elementary School

(Upper Arlington)                                       

“Relax, Refresh, Respect,” Pleasant Street Elementary

(Mt. Vernon)                        

“Domestic Violence,” St. Francis School (Cleveland)                                                   

“Positive Role Models,” Heritage Middle School (East Cleveland)

And, ‘Good Job!’ to the students from Collinwood High School and Botkins Elementary School.  They received the Youth for Justice Implementation Grant.  This was the first time schools were awarded money to help start up their projects at their own schools.

Botkins students will spread awareness of bullying by distributing “no bullying” frisbees at their school track and field day. Collinwood students plan to design team shirts to wear when they give presentations about the important issue of teen pregnancy prevention. As all these students tell us, it’s never too early to advocate for justice.

 

                Students from Collinwood High School in Cleveland whose project was titled: “RAP: Railroaders Against Teen Pregnancy.”

 

Botkins Elementary students whose project was titled: “Botkins Bully Busters.”

Ohio Teachers Become Students during Two-Day Program

Teachers from across the state visited the Ohio Judicial Center on Nov. 2 to learn more about the Supreme Court of Ohio.

More than 20 Ohio teachers participating in the annual Ohio Government in Action program sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education. The two-day program teaches the educators about the three branches of government.

Besides being welcomed by Chief Justice Maureen O’Conner, the group also took a tour of the Visitor Education Center, observed a Supreme Court of Ohio oral argument session, and ate lunch with Justices Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Terrence O’Donnell, Robert R. Cupp, Yvette McGee Brown and myself.

The group also toured the Statehouse and met with Secretary of State Jon Husted and Attorney General Mike DeWine and had meetings with legislators.

Teachers: Please don’t hesitate to contact the Visitor Education Center if you’d like to tour the Ohio Judicial Center.

Social Studies Teachers and the Judiciary: Partners in Civics Programs

I just finished speaking at the 21st Law and Citizenship Conference sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education, and WOW, they did it again!

It was great speaking with social studies teachers from across the state about the judicial system and what Ohio’s courts can do to help students learn about their responsibilities as citizens.

I explained how teachers and the judiciary can be partners in civics programs. I also told the elementary, middle and high school teachers about iCivics.org , a national program designed to inspire students through interactive civic education. It’s a super way for students to have fun learning through interactive on-line games and lessons.

Justice Terrence O’Donnell also attended the OCLRE conference and spoke about the differences between interpreting and making law. And, a special congratulations to Justice Robert Cupp and his wife, Libby, who received the prestigious Founders’ Award given for significant contributions to the growth of law-related education.

What a fine way to celebrate the weekend that memorializes the signing of our U.S. Constitution!

Please comment if you have any questions for me about the courts or iCivics.org.