Defending champs: Xavier High School's 2015 Mock Trial Team, pictured here, won the tournament last year and competed in the national event. 

 

Jan. 25, 2016 – TV, radio, and real life events have piqued the nation’s interest in legal cases and the justice system, especially in the last year. Now, Wisconsin high school students will get firsthand experience in dealing with the intricacies of presenting a court case.

On Feb. 13, 115 teams from 81 high schools will travel to courthouses around the state to participate in the regional phase of the Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Tournament, a State Bar of Wisconsin program that started in 1983 and continues strong today.

Mock Trial provides high school students with an opportunity to act as attorneys and witnesses in a court case developed by State Bar members. The students – in teams of six to 12 – argue a criminal case before a panel of volunteer attorneys and judges in the regional competitions.

The winners advance to the semifinals in Madison, and the top two teams appear in the Wisconsin Supreme Court courtroom in the final state-level competition.

This year, teams will be breaking down a civil case, Sammie Smid v. Robin O’Reilly, about a police officer’s use of excessive force on a 20-year-old homeless person.

All 12 of the regional tournaments begin at 8 a.m. at local courthouses around the state. (See the list of regions below for a breakdown of locations and competing schools.)

Volunteers still needed! For those State Bar members interested in volunteering at one of the regional events, please contact State Bar Public Education Manager Katie Wilcox by email or by phone at (608) 250-6191.

Regions, Locations, Competing Schools

Appleton. The Appleton area regionals are scheduled to take place at the Outagamie County Justice Center. Nine teams from the region will be competing, including participants from the following schools:

• Appleton West High School
• Oshkosh West High School
• West Bend High School
• Xavier Catholic High School

Eau Claire. The regional tournament in the Eau Claire area will be held at the Eau Claire County Courthouse. Ten teams from the Eau Claire region will be competing, including participants from the following schools:

• Eau Claire Memorial High School
• Eau Claire Regis High School
• Ladysmith High School
• River Falls High School
• Somerset High School
• Superior High School
• Thorp High School

Green Bay. The Green Bay-area regionals will be held at the Brown County Courthouse. Ten teams from the region will be competing, including participants from the following schools:

• Bay Port High School
• De Pere High School
• Green Bay East High School
• Kewaskum High School
• New London High School
• Roncalli High School
• St. Mary Central High School
• Sturgeon Bay High School

Janesville. The Janesville regional tournament will be held at the Rock County Courthouse. Eight teams from the Janesville region will be competing, including participants from the following schools:

• Belleville High School
• FJ Turner High School
• Lake Geneva Badger High School
• Mukwonago High School
• New Glarus High School
• Oregon High School
• Whitewater High School

Juneau. The regional tournament for Juneau-area schools will take place at the Dodge County Justice Facility. Ten teams from the Juneau region will be competing, including participants from the following schools:

• Beaver Dam High School
• Dodgeland High School
• Hustiford High School
• Lodi Senior High School
• Mayville High School
• Waterloo High School
• Waunakee High School
• Waupun High School

La Crosse. The La Crosse-area regionals will be held at the La Crosse County Facilities. Seven teams from the region will be competing, including participants from the following schools:

• La Crosse Central High School
• La Crosse Logan Senior High School
• Melrose-Mindoro High School
• Prairie Du Chien High School
• Reedsburg High School
• River Valley High School
• West Salem High School

Madison. Madison-area students are set to compete at the Dane County Courthouse. Ten teams from the Madison region will be competing, including participants from the following schools:

• DeForest Area High School
• James Madison Memorial High School
• Madison East High School
• Madison West High School
• Middleton High School
• Mineral Point High School
• Platteville High School
• Stoughton High School

Milwaukee. The Milwaukee-area regional tournament will be held at the Federal Courthouse. Twelve teams from the Milwaukee region will be competing, including participants from the following schools:

• Cudahy High School
• Milwaukee Academy of Science
• Milwaukee Collegiate Academy
• Pius XI
• Salam High School
• Shorewood High School
• St. Joan Antida High School
• Whitefish Bay High School

Racine. Racine-area students will compete at the Racine County Sheriff Law Enforcement Center. Eleven teams from the region will be competing, including participants from the following schools:

• Christian Life High School
• Franklin High School
• Nicolet High School
• Oak Creek High School
• St. Catherine’s High School
• Waterford Union High School
• Whitnall High School

Waukesha. The Waukesha tournament is set to take place at Waukesha County Courthouse. Eleven teams from the Waukesha region will be competing, including participants from the following schools:

• Brookfield Academy
• Brookfield Central Senior High
• Hartford Union High School
• Kettle Moraine High School
• Pewaukee High School
• Wauwatosa West High School
• Oconomowoc High School

Wausau. Wausau-area teams will compete at the Marathon County Courthouse. Nine teams from the Wausau region will be competing, including participants from the following schools:

• D.C Everest Senior High School
• Lakeland Union High School
• Phillips High School
• Rhinelander High School
• Wausau West High School

Wisconsin Rapids. Students from the Wisconsin Rapids area will compete in the mock trial regionals at the Wood County Courthouse. Eight teams from the Wisconsin Rapids region will be competing, including participants from the following schools:

• Berlin High School
• Lincoln High School
• Marshfield High School
• Stratford High School

For more information about the Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Tournament, visit the State Bar’s Mock Trial page.