This Week: Middle School Mock Trial State Tournement
Nov 13th, 2011 | By critellilaw | Category: Featured Page
They’re going to State!
CritelliLaw is the proud sponsor of the St. Theresa’s Middle School Mock Trial team. In my view, the Iowa State Bar Association’s Mock Trial program is the single most important activity of the Association. By participating several thousand young people, their parents, families, friends and teachers learn about law lawyers and the court system. Each year between 200 and 275 schools participate. The program has been in existence for over twenty-five years. Many practicing lawyers were first introduced to the law through the middle and high school program. In fact twenty-five years ago this year Lylea helped coach the Lincoln High School team to a national championship. Lylea was only six at the time 
Lylea’s St. Theresa team made it through regional and are now into the State tournament. The tournament will be held at the Polk County Convention Center in Des Moines on Thursday and Friday November 17-18th and at the Supreme Court on Saturday November 19th. Our office will be closed Thursday noon. At that time it will be taken over by much smaller lawyers, their coach and their parents as they prepare for their upcoming trials.
The case this year is a criminal case. A grandfather is charged with manslaughter and child endangerment for giving his two year old granddaughter prescription cough syrup prescribed for his older grandchild. It’s alleged that the child died from an overdose of hydrocodone and chlorpheniramine causing a fatal reduction in respiration. Causation is made more complicated by the presence of lymphocytic myocarditis.
It is a “battle of the medical experts” type of case. Both sides have medical expert witnesses as well as the state medical examiner who performed an autopsy.
Just think if it, 6th, 7th and 8th graders studying medicine, the law of evidence and trial procedure and basic criminal law regarding manslaughter. (Yes —they know the difference between specific intent and recklessness as well as mens rea. ), giving opening statements and final arguments, direct examination and cross examination. It’s simple incredible.
The tournament needs judges. So fellow members of the Bar it’s time to step up to the plate and help the kids. Call John Wheeler at the Bar office 515-243-3179 and sign up to judge a session.
Now – about that Holy Cow mascot!!!
