Madison, WI – The State Bar of Wisconsin is pleased to announce that Rhinelander High School is the winner of the Mock Trial State Championship and will advance to the National Mock Trial Championship in Indianapolis from May 9 to 11. Brookfield Academy took second place.   

The two teams went head-to-head yesterday in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, pleading their case in front of the State Supreme Court Justices.

This was Rhinelander’s 16^th state victory and Brookfield Academy’s first time in the finals. They represented the top two teams from Sunday’s semifinal competition at the Dane County Courthouse. 12 teams from across the state competed in the day-long event, which consisted of four trials that were judged by a panel of volunteer attorneys and judges.

Rhinelander’s team members include: Matt Anderson, Lydia O’Brien, Lauren Sexton, Elisha Sheffer, Amber Sheth, Melissa Sheth and Amber Toboyek. Kathy Vick-Martini is the teacher coach and Attorney Jim Jacobi and Oneida County Circuit Court Judge Michael Bloom serve as attorney coaches.

“Mock Trial is a great experience for the students. They learn to speak publicly, to think on their feet, and to work together as a team,” said State Bar Public Education Committee Chair Kevin Lonergan.

The Mock Trial program provides high school students with an opportunity to act as attorneys and witnesses in a court case that has been developed by State Bar members. This year’s students – in teams of six to 12 – were presented with a criminal case.

Next year will bring even more opportunities for Wisconsin students. For the first time in 20 years, the State Bar of Wisconsin will host the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Madison from May 8 to 10, 2014.

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