Gifted Avon Lake Students Doing Mock Trials

AVON LAKE, OH — Gifted students from Troy Intermediate School will take part in an annual Mock Trial competition at the Lorain County Justice Center on Thursday. Students will simulate real court trials and settle cases before a panel of real lawyers.

Lorain County's Gifted Consortium hosts the competition each year. Students take on the roles of lawyers, witnesses, jurors, foremen and bailiffs. With professional lawyers acting as judges, schools compete to win cases.

More than 300 students from across the county will take part in the event. The Mock Trial participants are in grades 5-8. Avon Lake students will be part of Session 2 at the competition, meaning they'll be locked into cases from 11:50 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.

"The goal of Mock Trial is to provide students with a real-life learning experiences that are an intrinsically motivational way for them to learn and apply what they have learned. Some of the most important skills included in the process include refining listening, speaking and reading skills," an Avon Lake schools spokesperson said in an email to Patch.

Mock trials follow procedures set forth in lower courts.

"It provides a meaningful way for students to learn to cite relevant passages from text as they prepare their defense and prosecution arguments. The students learn courtroom procedures and the people and rights involved with the legal system. It also teaches how to evaluate both sides of an issue and resolve conflicts in a nonviolent manner," the spokesperson said.