BY VIRGINIA DENMARK
Hope Christian Academy
After a semester of working a realistic case study, Hope Christian Academy Law Studies students took to the road and presented their arguments in a mock trial at the Bradford County Courthouse on April 30 where a guilty verdict was rendered by a student jury.
“The mock trial is a testament to both academic rigor and practical learning. The project brought the intricacies of the legal system to life for our 8th – 12th grade students,” Instructor Mandy Cornelius said.
Judge D. Tatum Davis of the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida presided over the HCA mock trial and offered instructions and explanations throughout the morning proceedings.
“I thought it was very, very good as a whole for high school, and they were very respectful of the process. This is the first [student mock trial] I’ve done like this in my eight years as a judge,” he said. Judge Davis concluded the trial with the encouragement to “never be nervous to come to your courthouse.” He added, “This is yours and is here to serve you.”
Instructor Cornelius said, “Students delved into the foundations of law in the United States before focusing on an in-depth study of the court system. After exploring various court cases ranging from civil to criminal, the class collectively selected a case to simulate in a mock trial setting.”
Students were divided into prosecution and defense teams and assumed roles within the case, and conducted extensive research to build strategies, evidence, as well as building the characters they portrayed.
Throughout the semester, local attorney VeRonica Owens, Division Chief for the Bradford County State Attorney Shawn Thompson and Judge Davis visited the class on campus and shared invaluable guidance, said Cornelius.
The culmination of the students’ efforts occurred with the help of Thompson and Assistant Public Defender Eddie Edwards assisting the prosecution and defense teams during the mock trial. Students experienced an authentic courtroom environment, with visits from various members of the court and law enforcement, including Sheriff Gordon Smith, court clerks, and bailiffs.
“Guided by lessons in voir dire,” said Cornelius, “the [student] jury diligently heard testimony, deliberated, and ultimately rendered a verdict.”
Reflecting on the project, Cornelius expressed immense pride in her students’ dedication and growth throughout the process. “The mock trial project was not just an academic exercise but a hands-on opportunity for students to apply their knowledge of the law in a real-world context.”
Law Studies mock trial participants:
Instructor/Mock Trial Coordinator Mandy Cornelius
Prosecution Team
Lead – Jude Hanson 12th
Co-Council – Tavian Frazier 12th
Assistants – Bree Odom 9th, Bri Bradshaw 9th
Paralegals – Ana Kozinski 9th, Colten Bagwell 9th
Witnesses – Savannah Jewell 10th, Griffin McCloud 9th, Nathan Webster 9th
Defense Team
Lead – Caden Hartzog 9th
Co-Council – Lacey Depoe 10th
Assistants – Anne Amis 9th, Zachary Miller 9th
Paralegals – Lydia Jones 10th, Haydn Tillett 9th
Defendant – Wyatt Gauthier 12th
Witnesses – Lucas Grider 8th, Brice Flint 9th
Jury Pool
Benjamin Whalen 11th
Taryn Flowers 8th
Mythias Weis 10th
Ellie Amis 11th
Luke Drew 11th
Noah Gaffney 9th
Kylie Icard 8th
Lesly Salvidrez 8th
Jacob Elmore 7th
Madison Green 7th
Hunter Yoder 7th
Natalie Weis 7th
Katie Justus 8th
