photos by Kristen Stewart


(Left) Te St. Mary's team celebrates their regional championship in the Reading Room of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. (Top left) Sophomore Katie Hieatt of St. Mary's School argues passionately as an attorney in the regional competition. (Top right) Kirk Presley explains the evidence as an expert witness for the White Station Green team.


realize that mock trial is about so much more than just teaching students about the law —it teaches them how to formulate a position and defend it, how to think on their feet, and how to articulate their ideas in a logical manner.” Tis year, nineteen teams competed from thirteen schools large and small, public and private. Tey tackled a problem involving a copyright case where Jessie Jameson sued Jordan “Catnip” Evergreen, alleging copyright infringement of Jameson’s song “June to July Girl.” Jameson attempted to show that Evergreen’s “He’s My Still Loving You” song was substantially similar to her song and that Evergreen had access to Jameson’s musical composition. Te problems are provided by the Tennessee Bar Association


each year and alternate between civil and criminal matters, giving students a wide exposure to different aspects of the law if they are involved for several years. As in the past, each local team participated in the first two nights of competition, then the top 16 teams competed in a single-elimination tournament to determine which two teams moved on to the state competition representing District 1 and who claimed the regional champion trophy for the next year. Over the six nights of competition, over 100 local attorneys volunteered their time as judges, and many others volunteered


their time to guide the teams as coaches and mentors. Te first five days of competition were held at the Shelby


County Courthouse, thanks to the hospitality of the Judges, Chancellors, Clerks and courthouse staff who help to make the competition come alive to students by allowing them to use their courtrooms. Tis year’s District Championship round was held in the historic courtroom of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, providing plenty of space for spectators to watch the competition. Judge Phyllis Gardner presided over the Championship Round, while Kirk Caraway, President of the Memphis Bar Association, and Jake Dickerson, President of the Young Lawyers’ Division, served as scoring judges. In the end, the team from St. Mary’s School bested the


White Station High School Green team and emerged as District Champion. Both teams participated in the 34th Annual Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition, sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, which was held on March 14th and March 15th in Nashville. White Station advanced to the Championship Round of the State Competition, and lost a close round to Springfield High School. St. Mary’s junior Emma Farris enjoyed her experience,


15


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32