Iowa City High School was named the state champion at the Iowa High School Mock Trial State Tournament, defeating Ankeny Centennial High School on April 1. The team will represent Iowa at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Des Moines next month, hosted by The Iowa State Bar Association.
The annual tournament brings together students from across the state to compete in simulated courtroom trials. According to John Wheeler, director of the Center for Law and Civic Education at the Iowa State Bar Association, this year marked 44 years of high school mock trial programs in Iowa. A total of 98 teams participated statewide, with thirty-two advancing to the state tournament and competing over three rounds.
Semi-finalists included another team from Ankeny Centennial and Robins Mock Trial. Additional ranked teams were Robins Mock Trial (POK), Johnston High School (ZOF), Davenport Central (WEN), Marion Independent Schools (VSQ), Roosevelt High School (Des Moines) (HAK), Waukee High School (LUR), Marion Ind. Schools (CEN), and Johnston High School (BIR). Individual awards were also presented: fifteen students were recognized as outstanding attorneys and fifteen as outstanding witnesses, with two participants earning honors in both categories.
Two schools received the Judge Anthony Critelli Award for sportsmanship: Iowa City West and Waukee. This year was also notable for being only the second time that Courtroom Artist and Courtroom Journalist competitions took place at state level; Kasia Dean from Marion Independent Schools won as courtroom artist, while Lillian Rantanen from Iowa City High was recognized as top journalist. Both will compete nationally alongside their peers.
The event is sponsored by The Iowa State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division along with its Center for Law and Civic Education. The association promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal profession according to its official website. It operates out of Des Moines for administrative operations and member events according to its official website, honors excellence through awards according to its official website, serves more than 6,500 lawyers and judges licensed in Iowa according to its official website, supports members’ professional growth according to its official website, is governed by a board elected from judicial districts according to its official website, and provides resources aimed at enhancing practice across communities statewide while supporting legislative efforts according to its official website.
More information about this year’s results can be found on program websites.
