APRIL 2025 | 51 THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, Oklahoma high school students have assumed the roles of attorneys and witnesses through the Oklahoma High School Mock Trial program and honed their listening, speaking and persuasion skills. The participants used a fictional case drafted by the Mock Trial Committee, which is funded by the Oklahoma Bar Foundation. Forty-two teams competed this year, the most in Oklahoma Mock Trial history. On March 4, the top two teams met at the OU College of Law Dick Bell Courtroom for the final round of competition. Two Jenks High School teams were pitted against each other for the championship. Team Legal Lions bested Team Suits to claim the state title and the privilege of virtually representing Oklahoma at the National High School Mock Trial Tournament in May in Phoenix. Following the round, the judges noted that there was no need to offer any verbal critique as both teams performed so well that only accolades were due. The mock trial program is a unique extracurricular activity that develops reasoning, listening and speaking skills, among others. Students are given fictional sworn statements with often contradictory testimony from both fact and expert witnesses, not unlike real legal situations. Jury instructions and trial exhibits are included in the case materials. The students Both teams gather with scoring judges (from left) Judge Charles B. Goodwin, retired Judge Howard R. Haralson, Magistrate Judge Shon T. Erwin and Judge Mark Schwebke and (front) Mock Trial Coordinator Judy Spencer.
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