KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The National High School Mock Trial Competition is set to start on Wednesday, May 4. And for the first time in it’s history, it’s taking place in Kalamazoo.
The annual four day event, which goes from Wednesday, May 4, to Sunday, May 7, is being held in a hybrid format this year with more than 800 high school students from across the country participating. Mock trials and educational sessions are also being held virtually.
More than 200 attorneys and judges from around the U.S. will gather in person to serve as volunteer judges for the four-day event.
The event is hosted by the Michigan Center for Civic Education.
The mock trials will be centered on liability in the death of a Michigan pedestrian who was killed by an driverless autonomous vehicle. Students will review the fact pattern, witness statements and exhibits before preparing to argue both the plaintiff and defense side of the cases.
Teams will prepare opening statements, conduct direct and cross-examination of witnesses, argue objections, enter exhibits and deliver closing arguments. Judges will score teams on their understanding of case law and trial procedures, ability to argue effectively and to move the case forward, timeliness of objections, courtroom demeanor and other criteria.
While teams from Kalamazoo and across the state have been competing and winning the regional and national competitions, this is the first time the city and state have been chosen to host the competition.
More information about the competition, which will be held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo, is available at https://kzoo2022.nhsmtc.org/.
