Cleveland Mock Trial

The Cleveland Mock Trial Competition gives Cleveland high school students a chance to prepare their best legal arguments for an exciting day of competition with their peers each year in the spring. Coached by volunteer attorneys and law students, the teams take turns representing the prosecution and defense in a criminal appeal, giving them the opportunity both to hone their legal skills and to learn more about important issues facing teens today. In years past the topics have included police encounters, charges of hazing, driving while texting, bullying, misdemeanor child endangerment, and criminal stalking.  The top attorneys, witness, and essay writer are rewarded with a paid summer internship at the Cleveland Municipal Court.

2016 Competition

Congratulations and thank you!

Congratulations to the more than 300 students, volunteers, and supporters who participated in the 2016 Cleveland Mock Trial Competition at the Justice Center on May 6!  The CMBA extends special thanks to the more than 30 volunteers who served as legal advisors and judicial panelists, as well as the Cleveland Municipal Court for all its help and support that make the competition possible.  Ten teams from eight Cleveland high schools competed both as prosecution and defense in a hypothetical criminal case involving the topical issues of free speech, criminal damage, immigration, and laws regarding open carry and protests.
 
Congratulations to the top teams from this year's competition, as well as to students from Facing History and John Hay Early College, who were recognized as Outstanding Attorneys and Witness.

  • First Place: John Hay Early College - Team Truth
  • Second Place: Ginn Academy
  • Third Place: John Hay School of Science & Medicine
  • Honorable mention: Whitney Young and John Hay Early College - Team Justice
Attorneys, judges, and law students are invited now to sign up to serve as volunteer legal advisers for the upcoming Middle School Mock Trial.  Advisers meet with teams 1-2 times per week before the competition to help students hone their trial advocacy skills. Judges and lawyers can also serve as volunteer judicial panelists on the day of the Competition May 20, 2016.  For more information or to volunteer, please contact CMBA Competition Coordinator Jessica Paine at jpaine@clemetrobar.org or (216) 539-5982.

 

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2015 Cleveland Mock trial

More than 400 students, volunteers, and supporters participated in the 19th Annual Cleveland Mock Trial Competition at the Justice Center on April 24, 2015. The CMBA extends special thanks to the more than 75 volunteers who served as legal advisors and judicial panelists, as well as the Cleveland Municipal Court for all its help and support that make the competition possible. 22 teams from 12 Cleveland high schools competed both as prosecution and defense in a hypothetical criminal case involving the topical issue of student encounters with law enforcement officials. 

  • First Place: John Hay School of Science and Medicine
  • Second Place: John Hay Early College - Team Truth
  • Third Place: Whitney Young - Team #2

Congratulations as well to students from SuccessTech and John Hay Early College, who were recognized as Outstanding Attorney for the Prosecution, Outstanding Attorney for the Defense, Outstanding Witness, and winner of the 2015 Cleveland Mock Trial Writing Competition. The Cleveland Municipal Court awarded these four students paid internships, which provided a unique opportunity to gain experience and learn about our legal system.

To see more video of the mock trial in action, click here.

 

The Cleveland Mock Trial Competition is a program of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, with funding support provided by the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation.

The CMBF is a 501(c)(3) organization; gifts to it are tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

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