Acting with shrewd judgment, fostering effective teamwork, and displaying strong leadership abilities are crucial life skills that North Atlanta High School’s Mock Trial team has mastered. With practices held every Monday and Thursday over the past eight months, the team has worked diligently, resulting in several commendable performances and advancement to regional-level competitions. The team had their first competition of the season on February 10 and their final competition on March 2, both held at Cobb County State Court.
Starting in August, the team began their biweekly meetings in the library. These meetings focused on individualized coaching for students hoping to join the team as an attorney or witness. Due to the abundance of talent showcased at try-outs, the coaches decided that this season there would be two teams, a Black team and a Silver team. After the team rosters were finalized, the focus of meetings shifted to legal basics until the season’s case was released on October 11, 2023. Once the case was released, the teams became heavily invested and made it their mission to bring everything to life. “There was definitely a strong Mock Trial support system,” said student-attorney August Schmoll. “All of our amazing coaches made sure that we were trying our best while having a good time.”
After four months of preparation for the season’s case, the time came for the teams to compete in district-level competitions. On February 10, both teams made their way to Cobb County State Court. Each team’s prosecution would compete against an opposing team’s defense, and vice versa. The competitions took place inside real courtrooms, providing the teams with a realistic trial experience. After 13 hours spent inside the courthouse, it was time for the awards ceremony, during which the outstanding acts and winning teams were announced. The North Atlanta team’s dedication paid off when the Black team placed third, allowing entry into regional-level competitions. “I was nervous before it started, but gained confidence inside the courtroom,” said Outstanding Attorney recipient Nadia Davis. “When our team won, I was extremely grateful to continue working alongside my friends and teammates.”
With only half a month to prepare for regional-level competitions, the Black team held practices from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. three times a week. The team ran full trials with their own prosecution and defense, to ensure readiness for the upcoming competition. Upon returning to Cobb County State Court, the team competed in competitions, structured similarly to district-level. Since they had competed in the setting prior, the team felt comfortable and confident. Though they did not progress to state competitions, they were extremely pleased with their performance. “I am super proud of us for making it this far, we worked hard for it,” said teacher-coach Brooke Dozier. “The other teams had to put up a fight for their wins.”
North Atlanta’s Mock Trial team has devoted their full effort throughout the season. With a band of teacher-coaches, attorney-coaches, and supportive families, they were able to acquire legal knowledge and learn how to dominate a courtroom.
